The  person  charging  this  material  is  re¬ 
sponsible  for  its  return  to  the  library  from 
which  it  was  withdrawn  on  or  before  the 
Latest  Date  stamped  below. 

Theft,  mutilation,  and  underlining  of  books 
are  reasons  for  disciplinary  action  and  may 
result  in  dismissal  from  the  University. 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS  LIBRARY  AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


REPORT 

/  ■  •  '1  . 

$ 

OF  THr 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE, , 

•£)  t  <|  .  ^  i  . 

OF  THE 

. 

CONNECTICUT  TEMPERANCE  SOCIETY 

PRESENTED  TO  THE  SOCIETY. 


AT  ITS 


IN  NEW-HAVEN, 

MAY  16,  1832.  % 


lib- 

m 

PUBLISHED  BY  VOTE  OF  THE  SOCIETY 


MIDDLETOWN,  CONN. 


PRINTED  AT  THE  GAZETTE  OFFICE 


It  would  be  very  surprising  it  in  the  following  Report, 
there  should  be  no  errors.  Doubtless  there  are  many ; 
though  much  pains  have  been  taken  to  state  facts  only. 
It  is  hoped  that  the  discovery  of  a  small  or  even  great 
error,  will  not  blind  the  mind,  and  cause  any  individual 
to  look  with  suspicion  and  unbelief  upon  all  that  is  doing 
for  the  amelioration  of  the  condition  of  the  human  lacc. 


♦ 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 


THE  Connecticut  Temperance  Society,  was  formed  at  Hartford, 
May  20,  1829,  in  a  Convention  ot  Delegates  from  the  various  Tem¬ 
perance  Societies  in  the  State.  The  following  Constitution  was  unan¬ 
imously  adopted  : 

Art.  1.  This  Society  shall  be  called  the  u  Connecticut  Temperance 
Society  and  shall  be  auxiliary  to  the  American  Temperance  So¬ 
ciety. 

Art.  2.  Any  person  subscribing  this  Constitution,  shall  be  a  •mem¬ 
ber  ;  ami  all  members  of  auxiliary  societies  shall  be  considered  mem¬ 
bers  of  this  Society. 

Art.  3.  The  members  of  this  Society,  believing  that  the  use  of 
intoxicating  liquors  is,  for  persons  in  health,  not  only  unnecessary,  but 
hurtful,  and  that  it  is  the  cause  of  forming  intemperate  appetites  and 
habits  ;  and,  that  while  it  is  continued,  the  evils  of  intemperance  can 
never  be  prevented, — do  therefore  agree,  that  we  will  abstain  from  the 
use  of  distilled  spirits,  except  as  a  medicine  in  case  of  bodily  hurt  or 
sickness  ;  and  that  we  will  not  allow  the  use  of  them  in  our  families, 
nor  provide  them  for  the  entertainment  of  our  friends,  or  for  persons 
in  our  employment,  and  that  in  all  suitable  ways, we  will  discountenance 
the  use  of  them  in  the  community. 

•J 

Art.  4.  All  Temperance  Societies  in  the  State,  adopting,  in  sub¬ 
stance,  these  principles,  may  be  auxiliary  to  this  Society,  by  forwarding 
io  the  Secretary  their  Constitution,  a  list  of  their  members  and  officers, 
and  making  an  annual  report  of  their  proceedings,  and  a  return  of  new 
members. 

Art.  5.  The  officers  of  this  Society  shall  be  a  President,  eight  Vice 
Presirlcnts,  an  Executive  Committee,  a  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  and 
shall  be  chosen  annually. 

Art.  6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  President,  or  in  his  absence,  of 
the  1st  Vice  President  present,  to  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the  Socie¬ 
ty,  and  to  call  special  meetings  at  the  request  of  the  Executive  Com¬ 
mittee. 

Art.  7.  The  Executive  Committee  shall  consist  of  eight,  including 
the  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  They  shall  have  a  general  superinten¬ 
dance  of  the  concerns  of  the  Society  ;  procure  public  meetings  of  dif¬ 
ferent  kinds  to  call  the  attention  of  the  community  to  the  evils  of  Intern- 


1'HIRD  annual  report  of  the 


perance,  their  causes  and  remedies ;  publish  and  circulate  books 3 
pamphlets  and  handbills,  and  other  writings  on  the  subject  ;  secure  as 
tar  as  practicable  the  co-operation  of  the  medical  faculty,  the  public 
press,  and  the  public  teachers  of  religion  ;  form  Temperance  Associa¬ 
tions  among  various  descriptions  of  persons  ;  collect  and  exhibit  statis¬ 
tical  and  other  information  ;  endeavor  to  call  the  attention  of  rulers  and 
magistrates  to  the  subject ;  employ  such  agent  or  agents  as  they  may 
think  proper  ;  take  measures  to  raise  funds,  and  be  authorized  to  draw 
on  the  Treasurer  for  all  expenses. 

Art.  8.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  to  record  all  the  pro¬ 
ceedings  of  the  Society  ;  to  keep  a  list  of  all  the  members  ;  to  act  as 
General  Agent  for  the  Society  through  the  State,  and  promote  in  every 
possible  way  its  interests  ;  and  to  report  annually  to  the  Society,  an 
account  of  all  his  proceedings,  the  general  state  of  the  cause  of  Tem¬ 
perance,  and  the  number  of  members  belonging  to  the  Society. 

Art.  9.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Treasurer  to  receive  all  moneys 
which  may  Irom  time  to  time,  be  given  for  the  use  of  the  Society,  to 
pay  them  out  at  the  order  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  make  an 
annual  report  of  the  state  of  the  Treasury. 

Art.  10.  There  shall  be  an  annual  meeting  of  the  Society  on  the 
third  Wednesday  in  May,  at  the  place  of  the  sitting  of  the  Legislature. 
Arrangements  to  be  made  by  the  Executive  Committee. 

Art.  11.  This  Constitution  may  be  altered  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds 
of  the  members  present  at  any  annual  meeting. 

Officers  chosen  at  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution. 

PRESIDENT. 

Rev.  JEREMIAH  DAY,  D.  D.  LL.  D. 

VICE  PRESIDENTS. 

Rev.  T.  C.  BROWNELL,  D.  D.  LL.  D. 

Hon.  JOHN  COTTON  SMITH,  LL.  D. 

Ho*.  ROGER  M.  SHERMAN, 

ELI  IVES,  M.  D. 

NEHEMIAH  HUBBARD,  Esq. 

WM.  P  GREENE,  Esq. 

Gen.  STEPHEN  F.  PALMER. 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 

Rev.  CALVIN  CHAPIN,  D.  D. 

Rev.  Prof.  C.  A.  GOODRICH, 

.  SETH  TERRY,  Esq. 

Rev.  BENJ4MIN  M.  HILL, 

Rev  JOEL  H.  LINSLEY, 

SAMUEL  J.  HITCHCOCK,  Esq. 

SECRETARY. 

Rev.  JOHN  MARSH. 

TREASURER. 

FRANCIS  PARSONS,  Esq. 


CONNECTICUT  TEMPERANCE  SOCIETY. 


O 


In  the  evening  of  the  tiny  on  which  the  Society  was  formed,  a  public 
meeting  was  held  m  the  Centre  Church,  which  was  attended  by  a  large 
body  of  the  citizens,  and  many  of  the  members  of  the  Legislature  then 
in  session,  and  ably  addressed  by  C.  J.  M’Curdv,  Esq.  a  member  of 
the  Legislature,  and  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Hewitt,  agent  of  the  American 
Temperance  Society.  The  object  of  the  Society  was  to  embody  in 
one,  the  numerous  Temperance  Societies  which  were  springing  up  in 
various  parts  of  the  state  ;  to  promote  union,  and  harmony,  and  action 
among  them  ;  and  to  be,  with  other  State  Societies,  a  powerful  auxiliary 
to  the  American  Temperance  Society,  in  its  mighty  undertakings.  At 
its  first  Anniversary,  held  in  New-Haven,  May  19, 1830,  it  was  found 
that  the  cause  of  the  Society  had  gained  a  wonderful  hold  on  the  public 
mind.  There  had  been  formed  a  County  Society  in  each  county  in  the 
State,  and  172  associations  in  cities,  towns,  and  parishes,  which  were 
auxiliary  to  the  county  societies,  and  which  embraced  22,532  members, 
vvho  had  given  their  pledge  of  entire  abstinence.  To  give  a  still  greater 
impulse  to  the  cause,  (as  the  Secretary  could  not  from  his  professional 
engagements,  act,  as  the  constitution  required,  as  General  Agent  through 
the  State,)  the  Society  appointed  Daniel  Frost,  Jr.  Esq  a  gentleman  of 
the  Bar  in  Windham  county,  who  had  entered  with  much  zeal  into  the 
cause,  to  that  office,  requesting  him,  as  means  should  be  afforded,  to  go 
through  the  State  and  address  the  inhabitants  of  all  our  towns  on  the  dele¬ 
terious  effects  of  ardent  spirits  A  public  meeting  was  held  in  the  Cen¬ 
tre  Church,  which  was  ably  addressed  by  Mr.  Frost,  the  Hon.  Timothy 
Pitkin,  the  Hon.  R.  M.  Sherman,  and  his  Honor  Judge  Daggett. 

The  second  year  of  the  Society’s  operations,  through  its  friends  and 
auxiliaries,  were  spirited  and  successful.  About  536  dollars  were  con¬ 
tributed  to  the  support  of  Mr.  Frost,  who  labored  with  much  popularity 
and  efficiency  in  various  parts  of  the  State.  At  the  second  anniversary 
at  Hartford,  it  was  found  that  20  new  societies  had  been  formed,  and 
that  the  number  of  members  had  risen  to  29,748,  giving  an  increase  for 
the  year  of  7,216.  \  great  diminution  was  reported  in  the  use  of  ardent 
spirits,  and  considerable  in  the  manufacture  and  sale.  Mr.  Frost  was 
re-appointed  agent.  At  the  public  meeting,  a  sermon  wras  preached  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Hewitt. 

The  Society  had  now,  it  was  conjectured  by  many,  reached  its  acme. 
All,  it  was  said, had  joined  who  ever  would  join.  And  there  were  people,, 
who,  from  their  manner  of  life,  or  bodily  constitution,  never  had  occa¬ 
sion  for  much  spirituous  liquor.  But  it  now  appears,  at  the  third 
anniversary,  to  have  continued  to  advance,  and  enlist  thousands  more 
from  all  the  departments  of  society.  Twelve  new  societies  have  been 
formed,  and  an  increase  of  12,450  members,  has  been  gained  in  the  last 
year,  making  the  whole  number  of  members  of  the  society  42,298. — 
About  560  dollars  were  raised  the  last  year  for  the  support  of  Mr. 
Frost,  who  devoted  as  much  of  his  time  as  the  sum  would  warrant,  to 
the  cause  in  the  State.  As  the  professional  and  other  duties  of  the 
Secretary  demanded  his  time,  Mr.  Marsh  resigned,  reluctantly,  his 
office,  and  Mr.  Frost  was  appointed  to  it,  that  he  might  fulfil  all  its  ori¬ 
ginal  duties,  as  Secretary  and  General  Agent. 


u 


THIRD  ANNUAL  REPORT,  &C. 


The  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  Officers  of  the  Society  for 
the  vear  ensuing  : 

JEREMIAH  DAY,  D.  D.  LL  O.  President. 

Hon.  JOHN  COTTON  SMITH,  LL.  D.^j 
Rev.  CALVIN  CHAPIN,  D  D.  | 

Hon.  ROGER  M.  SHERMAN, 

Doct.  ELI  IVES, 

Rev.  WILBUR  FISK,  D.  D. 

DARIUS  MATTHEWSON,  Esq. 

ELISHA  STEARNS.  Esq. 

WM.  P.  GREENE,  E-q. 

Rev.  NATHANIEL  HEWITT,  D.  DO 
Mr.  JAMES  BREWSTER,  | 

Prof.  C.  A  GOODRICH,  i 

Rev.  JOEL  H.  LINSLEY,  .  { 

SETH  TERRY,  Eso. 

Rev  JOHN  MARSH,  j 

DANIEL  FROST,  Jr.  Esq.  Secretary. 

FRANCIS  PARSONS,  Esq.  Treasurer. 

The  public  meeting  at  the  Centre  Church  was  addressed  by  Mi 
Frost,  Rcf.  Leonard  Bacon,  Dr.  Hewitt,  and  Judge  Daggett. 

REPORT  OF  THE  TREASURER- 

Connecticut  Temperance  Society  in  ) 
account  with  F.  Parsons,  Treasurer. 

1832,  May  16.  To  Cash  paid  Daniel  Frost,  Jr.,  Esq.,  for  5  months 
and  23  days’  service  as  Agent  of  the  Society,  at  75  dollars  per  month,  $433  2b 
To  do.  for  his  expenses,  postage,  &c. 


Vice 

*  Presidents. 


J 


Executive 

Committee. 


51  55 


$484  8 3 


1832,  May 

Middletown, 
Wallingford, 
Now  Haven, 
North  Guilford, 
Waterbury, 
Madison, 
Northford, 
Meriden, 
Woodbridge, 


3 


CR. 

16.  By  contributions  from  friends 
$10  00  Lebanon,  Goshen,  5  00 
* 15  00  Lebapon, 

30  00  Exeter, 

5  00  Jewett  City, 

12  00  Griswold, 

6  00  Litchfield, 

5  00  South  Farms, 

11  00  Bethlem, 

5  00  Watertown, 


40 
50 

4  00 

5  00 
24  85 


5 

5 


North-Kdling worth,  4  00  Woodbury, 
North  Branford, 

North  Haven, 

Hamden, 

Whitney  v  :lle, 

Humphreysvillc, 

Prospect, 

Guilford, 

Thompson, 

Pomfret  Factory, 

Killingly, 

Norwich, 

Norwich  Falls, 

North  Stonington, 

Hanover, 


5 

5 


00 
00 
00 
00 
10  00 

4  00 

5  00 
8  00 
3  00 

6  50 
10  00 
10  00 
15  00 

5  00 


10 

5 

5 

5 

9 


00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

10 

00 

00 

00 

00 


Warren, 

Torringford, 

Plymouth, 

Winchester, 

Winsted, 

Colebrook, 

Norfolk, 

S.  Canaan, 

Salisbury, 

Sharon, 

Northfield, 

Derby, 

Simsbury, 

East  Hartland, 
Respectfully  submitted* 

FRANCIS 


5  00 
22  00 


4 

5 


00 
00 
8  00 
5  00 


of  temperance  in 
West  Plartland, 
Salmon  Brook, 
Collinsville, 
Canton, 
Burlington, 

East- Avon, 
Wintonbury, 

West  Hartford, 
New  Britain, 

East  Windsor, 
Glastonbury, 
Marlborough, 
East  Hartford, 
Newington, 
Worthington, 
Windsor, 

East  Stafford, 
Wiliington, 
Stonington  Point, 
Franklin, 

Lisbon. 


5  00 
5  00 
10  00 
5  00 
5  00 

5  00 

6  00 
10  00 
10  00 

7  00 
10  50 
3  42. 


7 

5 

5 


00 
00 
56 
5  00 
10  00 
9  00 
10  00 
5  00 
5  00 


$484  83 


PARSONS.  Treasurer. 


Hartford,  May  16,  1832. 

N.  B. — Due  Mr.  Frost  on  account. 


483  73 


I'HIRJ)  REPORT 


OK  THE 


'EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 


o+o — 


The  pasi  year  has  furnished  abundant  evidence  that  the  cause  in 
which  the  Society  is  engaged,  is  the  cause  of  God,  and  will  ultimately 
effect  the  benevolent  object  it  has  in  view.  The  same  system  of  meas¬ 
ures  to  carry  it  forward,  has  been  pursued  in  this  as  in  former  years. 
Daniel  Frost,  Jr.  Esq.  your  popular  and  successful  Agent,  has  been  sus¬ 
tained  in  the  held  about  five  months,  and  has  addressed  all  the  Societies 
m  Litchfield  and  Hartford  counties,  and  several  in  other  parts  of  the 
State.  In  addition  to  the  regular  monthly  meetings  of  the  town  and 
county  societies,  district  meetings  have  been  held  in  many  parishes, 
with  great  effect.  Temperance  newspapers  and  tracts  have  been  more 
extensively  circulated  than  in  former  years,  and  the  excellent  Na¬ 
tional  Circular  has  been  fast  finding  its  way  into  every  family  in  the 
State.  The  experience  of  abstinence  men  has  spoken  loudly  to  all 
their  neighbors  in  favor  of  the  economy,  healthfulness,  safety  and  hap¬ 
piness,  of  their  course  ;  and  they  themselves  have  advanced  with  in¬ 
creased  boldness,  upon  the  demon  intemperance,  in  all  his  haunts. — 
The  action  too,  of  other  States,  especially  of  the  State  of  New- York, 
and  the  advancement  of  the  cause  in  foreign  countries,  have  been  pow¬ 
erful  upon  our  population  ;  and  we  must  have  been  indeed,  spell-bound 
by  the  poison,  not  to  have  made  since  the  last  anniversary,  great  pro¬ 
gress. 

Your  committee  urged  the  Town  Societies  to  hold  their  anniversaries 
in  March,  and  the  County  Societies  to  hold  their’s  in  April,  that  a  full 
report  from  each  County  in  the  State,  might  be  transmitted  to  them  be¬ 
fore  your  meeting  in  May.  It  is  believed  that  this  recommendation  has 
been  generally  complied  with.  While  your  Committee  would  feel 
grateful  to  tho9e  who  have  furnished  them  with  the  facts  which  they 
now  lay  before  you,  they  regret  to  say  that  with  some  Temperance 
officers  there  is  a  strange  apathy  on  this  subject,  which  has  prevented 
a  report  of  more  value  than  they  are  able  to  present.  A  mighty  and 
beautiful  river  cannot  flow  forth  without  its  thousand  tributary  streams. 


8  THIRD  ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE 

MIDDLESEX  COUNTY. 

Society  organized  Sept.  21,  1828. 

CHARLES  GRISWOLD,  Esq.  President. 

Clark  Nott,  Esq. 

Nehemiah  Hubbard,  Esq. 

F.  G.  Comstock,  Esq. 

Col.  D.  White,  )>  Vice  Presidents. 

Rev.  P.  Brocket, 

Dea.  Jonathan  Huntington,  j 

Samuel  Silliman,  J 

Rev.  William  Case,  Secretary. 

Clark  Nott,  Esq.  Treasurer. 

This  Society  was  the  first  County  Temperance  Society  organized  in 
(he  State.  It  bears  date  six  months  prior  to  the  State  Society.  Pre¬ 
vious  to  its  organization,  says  the  Secretary  in  his  report,  the  use  ot 
distilled  liquors  as  an  auxiliary  to  labor  and  an  article  of  refreshment, 
was  not  more  customary  and  general  in  any  section  of  the  State  than 
in  this  County.  In  addition  to  its  sea-coast,  the  County  is  intersected 
for  its  whole  length  by  the  Connecticut  river.  Its  advantages  for  com¬ 
merce  and  the  consequent  employment  of  its  inhabitants  were  so  many 
facilities  for  the  introduction  and  general  use  of  the  liquid  poison. 
Every  tide  setting  in  from  the  ocean  came  freighted  with  it ;  every 
wharf  received  it  amid  the  portentous  rejoicings  of  those  who  loved 
it.  The  first  efforts  were  made  under  a  strong  conviction  that  some¬ 
thing  must  be  done,  and  under  a  deep  sense  of  dependence  on  God  for 
success.  No  cause  was  ever  more  assailed,  and  none  ever  more  suc¬ 
cessful.  On  issuing  the  Constitution,  it  was  asserted  that  500  men 
pledged  to  entire  abstinence,  would  drive  the  monster  from  our  bounds. 
The  enquiry  was  started  with  trembling.  Can  they  not  be  had  ?  600 
were  soon  enlisted,  through  whose  exertions,  at  the  end  of  the  first  year, 
the  Society  numbered  over  two  thousand,  males  and  females.  The 
additions  during  the  second  year,  were  rising  1,500:  and  during  the 
third,  a  little  short  of  1,000,  making  the  present  number  of  members 
of  the  Society  4460.  The  Society  has  sixteen  Auxiliaries.  Three 
Associations  in  Middletown,  and  some  Methodist  Associations,  embrac¬ 
ing  from  5  to  600  members,  are  not  auxiliary  ;  and  many  in  the  Coun¬ 
ty  practice  on  the  principle  of  the  Society  who  have  not  given  their 
pledge ;  so  that  it  may  safely  be  said  that  6,000  persons  within  the 
limits  of  the  Society,  will  neither  manufacture,  purchase,  vend  nor  use 
distilled  liquors.  And  it  is  not  the  least  gratifying  feature  in  the  pre¬ 
sent  state  of  the  Society,  that  there  are  among  its  consistent  members, 
from  four  to  five  hundred  children  and  youth  who,  from  enlightened 
views  and  feelings,  have  declared  eternal  hatred  to  the  common  foe 
of  man. 

Besides  this,  the  Secretary  gives  in  his  report,  the  following  general 
statistics  gathered  from  the  returns  of  fourteen  Associations,  which, 
while  highly  encouraging,  will  guard  against  overrating  past  success  and 
relaxing  future  efforts.  12  fisheries,  out  of  48  :  about  one  quarter  c; 


COiMiEC'i’Itf'i  J  K MrE-ft AIS  CE  SOCIETY. 


9 


the  stone  quarries  ;  17  vessels,  out  of’ 45  ;  170  factories  and  mechanic 
shops,  out  of  330,  and  5  militia  companies  at  muster,  out  of  2 1 ,  have 
wholly  abandoned  the  use  of  ardent  spirits.  45  stores  out  of  93,  do 
not  sell  the  poison.  A  few  taverns  are  kept  on  Temperance  principles. 
In  Lyme,  containing  20  stores,  no  licenses  for  selling  spirituous  liquors, 
have  this  year  been  granted.  In  Hadiyme,  containing  three  stores,  no  ar¬ 
dent  spirits  have  been  sold  for  three  years.  One  large  gin  distillery  con¬ 
tinues  to  be  run  in  the  County  ;  and  one  old  rum  distillery  is,  it  is 
said,  about  to  be  re-established.  Of  several  hundred  common  drunk¬ 
ards,  the  hopeful  reformation  of  only  25  is  reported.  Many  instances 
of  partial  reform  are  mentioned,  and  the  guilt  of  all  relapses  is  charg¬ 
ed  on  those  who  still  sell  and  .use  the  poison.  In  ship-yards  the  de¬ 
structive  article  is  still  extensively  used.  Of  1,300  farms,  near  400 
are  conducted  without  ardent  spirits.  Only  5  physicians  out  of  28,  en¬ 
courage  at  all  its  ordinary  use.  Of  3, 092  members  of  Congregational 
churches,  1,595,  but  little  more  than  HALF!  !  are  enrolled  on  the 
principle  of  entire  abstinence.  All  the  members  of  the  congregational 
church  in  Hadiyme,  and  of  the  strict  congregational  church  in  North 
Lyme,  have  given  their  pledge.  And  several  other  churches  have 
within  admail  fraction,  reached  this  desirable  point.  Of  542  members 
of  the  Baptist  churches,  176  have  given  their  pledge.  Many  of  the 
members  of  the  Methodist  church  consider  no  other  pledge  necessary 
or  called  for,  than  an  assent  to  their  articles.  Others  view  something 
more  essential  at  the  present  time,  and  have  united  with  this  Society  and 
are  efficient  members,  while  some,  to  the  number  of  5  or  600,  have 
temperance  associations  by  themselves. 

From  these  facts,  says  the  Secretary,  it  is  evident  that  the  work  is 
not  done.  Agriculture,  commerce  and  the  arts,  and  every  branch  of 
human  industry,  yet  suffer  from  the  desolating  scourge.  Nor  are  the 
churches  free.  They  are  but  beginning  to  emerge  from  the  night  of 
drunkenness,  and  put  on  the  armour  of  light.  In  every  department  of 
life,  the  ground  already  gained  is  strenuously  disputed  by  the  enemy. 
An  organized  influence  setting  in  with  the  current  of  depraved  inclina¬ 
tions,  }Tet  resists  the  reform  so  happily  commenced,  and  urges  its  abet¬ 
tors  to  do  whatsoever  their  hand  fmdeth  to  do  with  their  might. 

There  appears  to  be  no  want  of  light  upon  the  subject  in  this  County. 
The  monthly  meetings  of  Town  and  County  Societies  have  been  well 
sustained,  and  able  addresses  have  been  delivered  by  some  of  the  first 
advocates  of  temperance.  An  unusual  number  of  temperance  papers 
and  tracts  have  been  circulated.  The  Temperance  Agent  receives  pa¬ 
tronage  and  Is  handed  from  neighbor  to  neighbor  with  much  effect. 
And  the  Society  have  voted  to  place  the  National  Circular  in  every 
family  within  its  limits.  The  Secietary  therefore  well  remarks,  The 
sins  of  making,  vending  and  using  the  poison,  are  no  longer  to  be  re¬ 
garded  as  sins  of  ignorance.  Men  now  rush  upon  the  guilt  and  dangers 
of  commerce  in  the  article,  in  the  midst  of  open  da}r,  and  benevolence 
is  compelled  to  weep  over  instances  of  moral  dereliction  of  this  very 
sort,  in  the  pale  of  the  Christian  Church.  While  some  in  almost  even 


iU 


IJiillD  AM*  UAL  Itil'Uiii'  OF  T Hit. 


association  have  abandoned  the  traffic  as  of  immoral  and  unchristian 
tendency,  others,  and  men  too  professing  godliness,  still  continue  it, 
and  in  this  particular,  oppose  their  influence  against  one  of  the  most 
useful  reforms  ever  commenced  ;  against  the  purity  of  the  church  : 
against  the  saving  influence  of  the  Gospel,  and  against  that  Saviour 
who  died  on  the  cross,  to  make  an  end  of  sin. 

The  Secretary  closes  his  report  with  a  solemn  appeal  to  all  the  fol¬ 
lowers  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  If  this  cause,  says  he,  is  to  be,  and  who  can 
say  it  is  not.  one  principal  means  of  bringing  forward  the  predicted  dav 
of  glory  and  gladness  to  the  Church,  its  support  and  advancement  are  a 
point  of  Christianity,  from  which  no  temporal  considerations  afford  even 
•a  momentary  release.  It  demands  immediately,  the  influence  and  sup¬ 
port  of  every  Christian,  it  invites  to  sacrifice,  if  that  can  be  called  a 
sacrifice,  which  duty  to  God  and  man  imperiously  demands.  When  no 
Christian  shall  manufacture,  sell  or  use  that  which  destroys  for  time 
and  eternity,  then  will  the  work  of  destruction  from  this  source  cease. 
An  immense  tide -of  moral  evil  will  be  stayed,  and  if  its  desolations  do 
not  wholly  cease,  they  will  be  greatly  circumscribed, — if  widows  and 
orphans  do  not  cease  to  be  made,  the  guilt  of  causing  the  untold  miseries 
wall  cease  to  roll  back  upon  the  church;  and  the  blood  of  thousands, 
slain  by  intoxicating  drinks,  will  cease  to  crv  out  of  the  ground  against 
those  who  have  been  bought  with  a  price,  and  have  solemnly  sworn 
that  they,  whatever  others  do,  will  not  do  evil  that  good  may  come. 

AUXILIARIES. 

Middletown,  Nehemiali  Hubbard,  Esq.  President,  G.  M.  Board- 
man,  Secretary.  367  members  ;  176  males,  191  females.  Methodist 
Association,  2 10  members. 

Westfield  Society ,  157  members;  57  males,  93  females. 

Upper  Houses  Society ,  Dr.  R.  Warner,  President,  140  members  ; 
56  males,  84  females* 

Middlefield  Society ,  50  members.  Whole  number  m  Middletown. 
917. — Here  are  68  factories  and  mechanics’  shops,  28  of  which  are 
conducted  without  spirits — 8  physicians  all  discourage  their  use — 28 
grocery  stores,  5  of  which  sell  none.  The  progress  in  this  city  and 
its  suburbs  has  been  rapid  and  gratifying.  A  very  great  diminution  in 
the  amount  of  importations  and  sales  has  been  experienced.  In  West- 
field  are  no  stores,  tippling  shops  or  distilleries. 

Chatham ,  Doct.  Isaac  Smith,  President,  Eleazer  B.  White,  Secreta¬ 
ry.  160  members  ;  63  males,  97  females.  Here  are  4  stores  and  4 
taverns.  No  store  and  only  one  tavern  that  does  not  sell  the  poison. 
Common  drunkards  40.  Deaths  amongst  this  class  as  1  to  10  in  a  year 
No  active  opposition  from  members  of  the  congregational  church. 
Converts  have  generally  given  their  pledge  ;  few  members  of  other 
churches  are  enrolled. 

Ed st -Hampton.  F,  G.  Comstock.  President.  Warren  A,  ^kinuf'T: 


SCUTE  TV. 


•C  0  N  S  E  C  TiCl’T  T  E  M  ?  E  H  AN  C  E 


Secretary.  1  IS  members;  51  males,  67  females.  No  report  receive*! 
from  this  association. 

Middle-Hadd am,  Danforth  Turner.  President,  Edward  Root,  Secre  ¬ 
tary.  150  members  ;  75  males,  75  females.  Half  the  lactones  are  con  ¬ 
ducted  without  ardent  spirits — 2  new  buildings  have  been  reared  with¬ 
out— -5  stores  ;  3  of  which  do  not  sell.  More  than  half  of  the  congre¬ 
gational  church  enrolled.  Some  members  in  all  the  churches  oppose. 
Converts  have  promptly  given  their  pledge. 

East-Haddam ,  Isaac  Chapman,  Esq.  President, - ,  Secre  ¬ 

tary.  144  members  ;  58  males,  86  females.  No  answer  to  the  circu¬ 
lar  issued.  The  past  a  year  of  apathy— to  be  succeeded,  it  is  hoped, 
by  a  great  increase  of  courage  and  effort. 

Haddamf  Jonathan  Huntington,  Esq.  President,  Doct.  Benjamin  II. 
Catlin,  Secretary.  222  members  ;  94  males,  128  females.  Increase, 
23.  Here  are  33  factories  and  mechanics’  shops,  of  which  13  are 
worked  without.  In  the  number  rejecting  the  poison,  are  all  the  most 
extensive  factories.  Of  107  quarryme.o,  65  use  no  spirits.  2  vessels 
are  sailed  without.  The  article  is  in  part  excluded  from  trainings  4 
taverners  sell.  2  out  of  9  stores  do  not.  Less  than  hall  of  the  con¬ 
gregational  church  is  enrolled.  2  physicians  are  active  members  of 
the  Society.  The  society  has  exerted  a  happy  influence.  The  owner 
of  one  of  the  principal  quarries  has  paid  for  spirits,  §*100  a  year  for  30 
years.  The  sum  at  compound  interest  to  the  end  of  the  term,  would 
have  amounted  to  §7905  81.  For  two  years  this  quarry  has  been 
worked  entirely  without  spirits,  and  experience  has  abundantly  proved 
that  when  used  it  was  a  great  hindrance  to  labor.  A  large  gin  distillery 
continues  to  be  run  in  this  place  by  some  of  the  most  influential  inhabi¬ 
tants. 

Hodlyme ,  Col.  Samuel  C.  Selden,  President,  Ozias  Holmes,  Esq. 
Secretary.  311  members;  148  males,  163  females.  Increase,  75. 
Population  of  the  place  560.  311  enrolled,  249  not  enrolled.  The 

number  of  souls  belonging  to  the  congregational  society  is  283,  of  whom 
260  are  enrolled.  The  number  of  Baptists,  Methodists,  and  Episcopa¬ 
lians,  is  277,  of  whom  51  are  enrolled.  The  Congregational  church  has 
92  members — all  enrolled.  The  Baptist  40 — half  enrolled— other 
churches  in  nearly  the  same  proportion.  48  farms  38  of  which  arc 
remperunce  farms,  2  vessels  sailed,  5  buildings  reared  without  spirits. 
3  stores  keep  none  to  sell.  1  rail  way  for  repairing  vessels  furnishes 
no  spirits,  and  if  any  man  brings  any  into  the  yard,  he  is  immediately 
discharged — 12  converts  all  belong  to  the  t  uciety.  “  At  no  time  since 
the  formation  of  the  Society  has  it  appeared  to  be  so  free  from  alloy 
as  at  the  present.” 

Lyme ,  Richard  M’Curdy,  Esq.  President,  Chas.  Griswold,  Esq.  Sec¬ 
retary.  422  members  ;  175  males,  247  females.  Members  of  the 
Juvenile  association  40. — Whole  number  pledged  462.  Increase  64. 
Population  1200  souls,  one  third  enrolled.  6  drunkards  reformed.  92 
farms  of  which  49  are  conducted  without  ardent  spirits.  24  factories 
and  mechanics’  shops,  of  whirh  14  are  conducted  without.  9  stores,  and 


i'HlliD  .-1.NNUAL  01  fHL 


none  ii ceased  lo  sell.  Only  2  of  the  9  applied  for  licenses.  One  tav¬ 
ern — liquor  sold  in  it.  Three  physicians — all  members  of  the  Society. 
Of  l64  in  the  Congregational  church,  156  abstain,  and  147  belong  to  the 
Society.  38  persons  have  united  with  the  church,  of  whom  32  were 
enrolled  before  conversion,  and  6  soon  after,  and  before  professing  re¬ 
ligion.  One  ship-yard — no  liquor  furnished  or  drank  in  it.  Light  is 
constantly  diffused  and  the  cause  advancing. 

North  Lyme ,  Zebulon  Brockway,  President,  John  S.  Lord,  Secreta- 
ry.  391  members — 191  males,  200  females.  Increase  50.  More  than 
one  half  of  the  farms,  factories,  and  shops,  are  conducted  without  ar¬ 
dent  spirits :  3  vessels  sailed  without :  3  buildings  reared  without. 
The  militia  company  excluded  the.  article  from  the  chamber  and  the 
held  Here  are  9  stores,  none  of  which  are  licensed  ;  only  2  or  3  ap¬ 
plied.  Physicians  are  active  members.  The  Congregational  Church 
has  114  members;  79  are  enrolled.  The  Strict  Congregational  Church 
has  70  members;  69  enrolled.  Methodists  about  60  ;  all  enrolled 
The  influence  here  decidedly  in  favor  of  abstinence. 

Millington ,  Win.  E.  Cone,  President ;  and  Reed  Anderson,  Secre¬ 
tary.  150  members — 75  males,  75  females.  Increase  25.  One  third 
of  the  farms,  and  two  thirds  of  the  mechanics’  shops  are  managed  with¬ 
out  spirits.  In  the  congregational  church  of  100  members,  70  are  en¬ 
rolled.  A  very  happy  change  has  here  been  wrought,  and  is  still  pro¬ 
gressing.  Much  has  been  saved  to  the  people,  and  they  wisely  appro¬ 
priate  this  sav  ing  to  the  erection  of  a  new  house  of  worship. 

North  Killingworth ,  Rev.  Asa  King,  President ;  Doct.  Rufus  Turner, 
Secretary.  197  members  ;  80  males,  117  females.  Increase  55.  In  the 
church  236  members,  96  of  whom  are  enrolled.  Others  are  nearly  con¬ 
vinced  and  friendly.  Here  are  two  stores,  one  of  which  does  not  sell! 
The  friends  of  the  cause  have  here  had  peculiar  trials,  but  they  are 
united  and  active  and  prosperous. 

Saybrook ,  Wm.  Chalker,  President  ;  S.  M.  Tully,  Secretary.  326 
members;  117  male3,  209  females.  Increase  32.  Of  46  farms  and  16 
factories  and  mechanics’  shops,  one  half  exclude  spirits.  Of  7  stores, 
2  do  not  sell.  Two  thirds  of  the  vessels  are  sailed  without.  Three 
fourths  of  the  new  buildings  have  been  reared  without.  The  officers 
of  two  militia  companies  do  not  furnish  the  article.  Physicians  discour¬ 
age  its  use.  There  are  22  fisheries,  employing  from  220  to  300  hands, 
many  of  whom  abstain  from  spirituous  liquors.  One  fishery,  employing 
20  hands,  was  conducted  the  past  season  entirely  without.  In  the  con¬ 
gregational  church  are  356  members,  150  of  whom  are  enrolled.  Pro¬ 
fessors  do  not  oppose  ;  converts  have  almost  universally  given  their 
pledge. 

Petiipauge ,  Clark  Nott,  Esq.  President  ;  and  D(?ct.  A.  H.  King, 
Secretary.  436  members  ;  191  males,  305  females.  Increase  50.  Here 
was  perhaps,  the  first  regular  female  association  in  the  State,  and  its  in¬ 
fluence  in  the  cause  has  been  most  auspicious.  Seven  reformed  drunk¬ 
ards.  Of  125  farms,  59  are  conducted  without  spirits.  Of  79  factories 
and  mechanics’  shops,  52  conducted  without.  Of  1 1  stores.  8  have  re- 


CONNECTICUT  IX.Mt»EIUNCL  SOC1ET1  .  i  ■~ 

linquished  the  sale.  Congregationalists  and  Baptists  are  happily  united 
in  the  cause.  In  the  congregational  church  are  242  members,  162  of 
whom  are  enrolled.  In  two  baptist  churches  of  179  members,  63  are 
enrolled.  In  the  methodist  church  are  60  members,  all  separately  en¬ 
rolled.  It  is  not  known  that  any  Episcopalian  has  here  joined  the  so¬ 
ciety.  Talent  and  influence  are  decidedly  on  the  side  of  temperance. 

Westbrook ,  Michael  Hill,  President ;  - < - ,  Secretary.  332 

members  ;  113  males,  219  females.  Increase  22.  Agriculture  and  man¬ 
ufactures  are  one  third  exempt  from  ardent  spirits.  Of  10  vessels,  3 
are  sailed  without.  Of  253  in  the  congregational  church,  162  are  en¬ 
rolled.  In  the  methodist  church,  80  members  are  practising  abstinence. 
5  stores  all  sell  the  poison. 

Chester ,  Samuel  Silliman,  President;  Richard  Ely,  Secretary.  200 
members;  84  males,  1 16  females.  Increase  75.  Congregational  society 
consists  of  400  souls  ;  one  half  enrolled.  Baptists  have  not  united  in 
the  cause.  Congregational  church,  138  members,  100  enrolled.  Farms, 
one  third  conducted  without.  Of  20  factories,  &.c.  10  are  conducted 
without.  Of  5  stores,  3  do  not  sell.  Temperance  publicatious  are  cir¬ 
culated  and  read,  and  the  cause  is  advancing. 

West  Chester ,  Rev.  Joseph  Harvey,  President  ;  Augustus  Olmsted, 
Secretary.  135  members  ;  56  males,  79  females.  Increase  5.  There 
is  one  store  selling.  Agriculture  and  manufactures,  one  third  clear.  In 
*he  congregational  church  are  101  members,  55  of  whom  are  enrolled 

WINDHAM  COUNTY. 

Society  organized  April  20,  1829- 
DARIUS  MATTHEWSON,  Esq.  Pomfret,  President. 

John  Holbrook,  Esq.  Pomfret,  i 

Dr.  Joseph  Palmer,  Ashford,  \  Pice* Presidents, 

Jonathan  A.  Welsh,  Esq.  Brooklyn,) 

Ptev.  George  J.  Tillotson,  Brooklyn,  Secretary . 

Dea.  Edwin  Newberry,  Brooklyn,  Treasurer . 

Rev.  Samuel  J.  May,  Brooklyn,') 

Allen  Harris,  Plainfield, 

Job  Williams,  Pomfret,  p  Directors. 

John  F.  Williams,  Woodstock,  | 

Erastus  Lester,  Plainfield,  J 

For  the  first  three  years  of  its  existence,  this  Society  held  meetings 
only  quarterly.  But  since  last  July,  meetings  have  been  held  as  often 
as  once  in  two  months.  And  a  new  and  strong  impulse,  says  the  Se¬ 
cretary,  has  been  given  to  the  cause  in  almost  every  part  of  the  Coun¬ 
ty.  Most  of  our  auxiliaries  seem  to  have  had  a  mind  to  work  ;  and  as 
it  might  be  expected,  their  efforts  have  been  crowned  with  much  suc¬ 
cess.  For  twelve  months  preceding  last  July,  but  650  were  added  to 
the  Society  ;  but  during  the  last  eight  months,  we  have  received  1600. 
Our  whole  number  now  exceeds  5-000.  A  few,  who  have  violated 


1HIRD  ANNUAL  REPORT  OB  '1  HI 


1 4 

their  pledge,  have  been  thrust  out.  There  are  two  Societies  in  the 
County  with  200  members  not  auxiliary ;  so  that  there  are  in  the 
County  about  5,200  ;  nearly  one-fifth  of  our  population,  who  have  en¬ 
listed  as  good  soldiers,  we  trust,  under  the  banner  of  Total  Absti¬ 
nence.  Two  new  Societies  have  been  formed  in  the  past  year,  mak¬ 
ing  the  whole  number  in  the  County  24  ;  which  diffuse  through  every 
part,  a  purifying  and  precious  influence.  Existing  fears  at  the  last 
anniversary,  that  the  cause  was  stationary,  and  that  unless  something 
was  done,  there  would  be  a  reflux  of  the  tide  of  Intemperance,  excited 
the  Society  and  its  auxiliaries  to  new  efforts,  which  have  been  signally 
blessed.  The  system  of  district  meetings  was  adopted.  In  some 
towns,  such  meetings  were  held  once  in  two  or  three  weeks,  until 
every  school  house  was  made  to  ring  with  temperance  appeals  and  ar¬ 
guments.  Another  means  of  advancing  our  cause  has  been  the  pre¬ 
sentation  of  the  constitution  and  the  pledge  of  abstinence,  to  every  fa¬ 
mily  in  a  district  or  town,  by  some  judicious  and  influential  member 
who  has  assumed  the  responsibility.  By  this,  most  of  the  families  and 
individuals  in  some  of  our  towns,  have  had  the  subject  brought  home 
to  their  minds  and  hearts,  and  have  been  brought  to  a  decision  either 
for  or  against  joining  a  temperance  society.  And  not  a  few  respectable 
and  influential  individuals,  who,  until  the  last  year,  deemed  a  connexion 
with  a  temperance  society  as  unimportant,  have  since  been  led  to  re¬ 
gard  it  as  a  bounden  duty  to  join  and  publicly  espouse  our  cause. 

Many  conductors  of  large  farms  have  during  the  last  year,  pledged 
their  veracity  that  their  agricultural  business  shall  no  longer  be  carried 
on  by  the  stimulus  of  ardent  spirit.  And  many  more  are  making  the 
experiment  of  conducting  other  business  without  it.  Indeed,  the  great 
body  of  the  intelligent  and  respectable  people  in  this  County,  either  be¬ 
long  to  the  Society,  or  live  according  to  its  fundamental  principles. 

Most  of  the  members  in  Windham  County,  says  the  Secretary,  are 
over  eighteen  years  of  age;  and  he  enquires  with  much  force,  wheth¬ 
er  an  effort  should  not  immediately  be  made  to  enlist  all  from  ten  or 
twelve  years,  that  they  may  come  up  under  the  wholesome  influence  ot 
this  institution. 

But  few  distilleries  have  ever  been  established  in  the  County.  Som<‘ 
which  were  in  operation,  have  been  abandoned  from  principle.  Not 
one  of  any  kind  has  been  in  operation  the  past  year.  The  number  of 
Temperance  stores  has  increased  much.  Many  merchants,  who  took 
out  licences  last  year,  have  not  renewed  them  this.  Within  the  limits 
of  some  of  our  auxiliaries,  there  is  not  a  store  that  will  harbor  distilled 
spirits.  The  whole  number  of  stores  in  the  County  is  120  ;  of  these 
more  than  60  are  Temperance  Stores,  which  will  not  harbor  the  spirits 
of  death.  The  number  of  taverns  is  about  sixty.  But  with  pain,  we 
add,  only  six  or  seven  are  temperance  taverns. 

The  temperance  reformation  prepared  the  way  for  those  revivals  of 
religion  with  which  the  County  has  been  blessed  in  the  last  year  ;  and 
the  prevalence  of  religion  has  had  a  reciprocal  influence  on  the  cause 
of  temperance.  Not  a  few  whose  habits  were  fast  verging  towards  in¬ 
temperance,  have,  bv  the  truth  and  spirit  of  God.  been  resened  from 


CON-NEOriGUT  TEM.PLH AM C K  SOLICIT.  - 


oauger.  The  Churches  have  not  made  a  pledge  of  abstinence  indis¬ 
pensable  to  admission.  But  almost  all  who  have  recently  joined  the 
churches,  have,  previous  to  joining,  become  members  of  a  temperance 
society.  Most  of  the  professors  of  religion  in  the  County  are  members. 
But  very  few  of  them  traffic  in  ardent  spirits.  In  concluding  his  re¬ 
port,  the  Secretary  says,  it  is  manifest  that  the  cause  has  a  strong  hold 
here  and  draws  a  strong  current  of  public  opinion  in  its  favor.  The 
5,200  now  enlisted  in  this  cause,  may  ere  long,  by  faithful  continuance 
in  duty,  with  the  joys  of  conquest,  plant  the  standard  of  temperance  re¬ 
form  on  all  the  high  places  of  intemperance  in  the  County.  Past  ex¬ 
perience  has  verified  the  maxim,  According  to  your  appropriate  efforts , 
be  it  unto  you. 

AUXILIARIES.  ' 

Brooklyn ,  Doct.  Thomas  Huntington,  President  ;  Dea.  J.  G.  Dabney, 
Secretary.  37.0  members  ;  175  males,  194  females.  174  added  since 
last  July.  One  fourth  of  the  population  is  on  the  temperence  list.  Here 
are  6  stores  and  4  taverns.  4  of  the  stores  and  1  tavern  sell  no  ardent 
spirits.  But  one  town  in  the  county  has  so  great  a  proportion  of  the 
people  of  influence  and  respectability,  on  the  side  of  temperance. 

.  Ashford ,  M.  Davis,  President  ;  Dea.  Byles,  Secretary.  320 
members  :  150  males,  170  females.  Increase  this  year  211.  District 
meetings  have  done  much  in  this  place.  5  stores — only  one  sells  ardent 
spirits.  3  taverns,  1  kept  on  the  temperance  principle. 

Eastfordy - ,  President ;  llev.  Reuben  Torrey,  Secretary. 

158  members  ;  75  males,  53  females.  Increase  52.  Some  opposition  ; 
yet  the  cause  was  never  so  popular  as  at  present,  especially  among  the 
young.  5  stores,  3  sell  no  ardent  spirits.  Last  year  there  wrere  5 
taverns,  2  have  not  renewed  their  license. 

Wcstford.  But  little  effort  has  been  made  here,  and  progress  small, 
Number  of  members  55.  Increase  10.  One  store  and  one  tavern. — 
Both  sell  the  poison. 

Canterbury.  Doct.  Isaac  Clark,  President ;  Stephen  Coit,  Secretary, 
Has  heretofore  taken  the  lead  in  temperance,  but  is  now  outstripped 
by  Pomfret  and  Brooklyn.  46l  members,  not  quite  one-fourth  of  its 
population  on  the  list.  4  stores  ;  2  temperance.  One  merchant  has 
banished  spirits  from  his  store  during  this  year. 

Chaplin,  John  Ross,  President;  Thomas  Hough,  Secretary.  This 
society  has  prospered  the  last  year,  gain  40  members,  total  160.  3 

stores  in  the  place.  One  is  a  temperance  store.  One  tavern.  The 
cause  meets  with  serious  obstacles  here,  but  there  is  much  encourage¬ 
ment. 

Hampton,  John  Tweedy,  President;  Deac.  H.  Luminis,  Secretary. 
220  members  ;  68  males,  152  females — one-fifth  of  the  population. 
52  increase  since  July.  Of  6  stores,  2  are  temperance;  and  of  3 
taverns,  one.  The  cause  has  met  much  opposition  here,  and  there  re¬ 
mains  much  intemperance. 

Vorfh  Killingly, —  - ,  President :  William  Orosvener,  Secre 


K> 


l  H1KI>  ANNUAL  KifiLOlil  OF  THE 


tary.  270  members,  nearly  one-fourth  of  the  population.  94  increase. 
Meetings  have  been  frequent,  and  the  progress  of  the  cause  great.  Three 
stores  sell  no  ardent  spirits  ;  2  continue  the  ruinous  traffic.  Also  one 
tavern. 

Westfield ,  Thomas  Backus,  President ;  Doct.  Charles  Morse,  Secre- 
tary  278  members.  Increase  since  July,  103.  Within  its  limits  are 
live  stores,  in  not  one  of  which  is  the  poison  sold.  Two  have  banished 
it  recently.  Of  4  taverns,  one  has  on  its  sign  the  attractive  word, 
TEMPERANCE. 

East  Killingly ,  Rev.  George  Appleton,  President;  J.  Leavens,  Sec¬ 
retary.  Formed  in  July,  1830,  amidst  much  opposition,  but  has  ad¬ 
vanced  until  its  influence  is  powerful.  112  members  ;  60  males,  52  fe 
males.  Increase  42.  Three  temperance  stores;  one  store  and  one 
tavern  still  sell  the  drunkard’s  drink. 

South  Killingly ,  Deac.  Seth  Spalding,  President ;  Almond  Ames, 
Secretary.  100  members;  44  males,  56  females.  Increase  26. 
Prospects  never  so  bright  as  at  the  present  time. 

Plainfield ,  Col.  Erastus  Lester,  President ;  Alien  Harris,  Secretary. 
250  members  ;  125  males,  125  females,  only  one-ninth  of  the  population. 
Of  5  stores,  2  only  continue  to  traffic  in  ardent  spirits.  One  that  has 
traded  largely  has  recently  abandoned  the  business.  Increase  60  since 
July.  Efforts  to  gain  members  have  been  feeble. 

Pom  fret.  Job  Williams,  President ;  George  B.  Matthewson,  Secreta¬ 
ry.  Highest  in  the  County.  600  members  ;  2 75  males,  325  females, 
nearly  one-third  of  the  population.  Increase  this  year,  215.  The 
Temperance  constitution  has  been  faithfully  circulated.  Of  7  stores, 
all  but  one  are  true  to  temperance  principles.  A  year  ago,  several 
merchants  sold  rum.  Formerly  there  were  3  brandy  distilleries  in 
town.  One  is  about  to  be  converted  into  a  temperance  store.  The 
other  two  have  not  been  used  ior  years. 

Pomfret  Factory .  120  members,  inhabitants  of  a  corner  of  Pomfret, 
Thompson  and  Killingly.  This  society  has  been  recently  organized, 
has  made  rapid  progress,  and  is  very  salutary  in  its  influence.  But  one 
store,  and  that  a  Temperance  store. 

Windham ,  E.  Clark,  President ;  Samuel  Lee,  Secretary.  158  mem¬ 
bers  ;  52  males,  106  females — one-seventh  of  the  population.  9  stores,- 
2  Temperance.  The  cause  has  met  with  much  opposition  in  Windham, 
vet  it  advances.  Increase  since  July  16. 

Willimantic ,  G.  S.  Catlin,  President;  Wm.  Boon,  Secretary.  A 
manufacturing  village — 200  members.  Increase  40.  10  stores — 6  of 

them  sell  no  ardent  spirits. 

Scotland.  60  members.  Formed  recently,  and  not  yet  auxiliary. 

South  Woodstock.  190  members.  Increase  40.  Two  Temperance 
stores,  and  2  stores  that  sell  spirits,  also  2  taverns. 

North  Woodstock ,  T.  Corbin,  President : - ,  Secretary. — 

200  members.  Increase  35.  Four  stores  in  the  place,  and  ALL  tem¬ 
perance  stores.  Two  taverns  keep  the  poison  for  travellers. 

Wrcf  Woodstock.  Deac.  Alex.  Dorraoce.  President :  John  1.  W8 


CONNECTICUT  TEMPERANCE  SOCIETY* 


17 

lams,  Secretary.  160  members;  72  males,  88  Females.  Increase 
37-  Two  Temperance  stores.  Four  sell  ardent  spirits;  also  two 
taverns. 

Thompson,  Daniel  Dow,  President ;  Erastus  Knight.  Secretary.  335 
members  ;  134  males,  201  females — one-seventh  of  the  population. 
Increase  69.  Of  14  stores,  8  will  not  harbor  ardent  spirits  ;  7  taverns 

continue  to  sell  them. 

New  Boston ,  (a  factory  village)  70  members  ;  30  males,  40  females. 
Of  2  stores,  one  has  relinquished  the  sale  of  the  much  loved  poison. 
The  habits  of  the  people  are  said  to  be  greatly  improved. 

Thompson ,  Baptist  Society,  (not  auxiliary)  100  members. 

Sterling ,  I.  Backus,  President ;  J.  F.  Wilbur,  Secretary.  40  members 
— one-fifteenth  of  the  population.  This  society  has  declined  during 
the  year  ;  the  only  instance  of  decline  in  the  County — once  it  number¬ 
ed  65.  Many  have  moved  away,  and  some  have  violated  their  pledge. 
It  has  not  met  for  many  months,  yet  it  has  checked  the  ravages  of  in¬ 
temperance. 

Voluntown  and  Sterling ,  J.  Tillinghast,  President ; - ,  Sec¬ 

retary.  88  members  ;  33  males,  55  females.  11  increase.  This  so¬ 
ciety  has  met  with  much  opposition,  yet  has  advanced.  Meetings  have 
been  held  monthly. 

Voluntown ,  Souths  H.  Campbell,  President ;  B.  Gallup,  2d,  Secreta¬ 
ry.  125  members;  42  males,  83  females.  Many  practise  total  ab¬ 
stinence,  but  are  not  willing  to  join.  Increase  only  2. 

TOLLAND  COUNTY. 

Society  formed  May ,  1829. 

ZALMON  STORRS,  Esq.  President. 

Miner  Grant,  Esq. 

John  Hall,  Esq.  j  Pice 

Rev.  Samuel  Mallery,*)  Presidents. 

Mr.  John  Townsend,  J 

Rev.  PI i ram  P.  Arms,  Hebron,  Secretary. 

Deac.  Francis  King,  Vernon,  Treasurer. 

The  Secretary  has  furnished  a  brief  but  favorable  report  of  the  state 
of  the  Temperance  cause  in  this  county.  The  Society  has  17  auxilia¬ 
ries,  embodying  3,620  members  ;  a  nearly  equal  portion  of  males 
and  females.  Town  and  county  meetings  have  been  well  sustained, 
and  in  many  places  district  meetings  have  been  held  with  much  success. 
No  small  part  of  the  work  of  the  com  ty  has  been  done  without  ardent 
spirit,  the  past  year.  And  a  great  diminution  in  the  use  is,  in  almost 
every  place  observable — 6  stores  in  the  county  have  abandoned  the 
sale.  The  feelings  of  opposition  among  sober  men,  of  which  unhappily 
there  has  been  considerable, are  softening  down.  And  why  should  they 
not  ?  Tt  is  an  obvious  fact  that  a  great  reformation  has  been  accom¬ 
plished.  It  is  equally  obvious  that  the  Temperance  Society  has  been 


i8  THIRD  ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  TfJE. 

the  grand  and  sole  means  of  that  reformation.  How  then  can  sober  men 
and  well  wishers  to  their  country,  oppose  such  a  cause  ?  Is  it  not  un¬ 
generous  for  those  who  do  nothing  to  aid  this  benevolent  enterprise,  to 
stand  by  and  reproach  or  impugn  the  motives  of  those  who  are  grap¬ 
pling,  successfully  grappling,  with  the  demon  Intemperance.  1  he 
friends  of  humanity  might  all' be  expected  to  unite  in  the  suppression  of 
this  vice,  in  the  only  effectual  mode  yet  devised  for  this  purpose,  or, 
in  their  wisdom,  point  out  a  better. 

The  Secretary  alludes  to  a  few  victories  of  the  monster  we  are  de¬ 
stroying.  One  young  man,  he  says,  has  recently  died  of  a  delirium 
tremens.  One  woman  laid  down  by  the  fire  in  a  fit  of  intoxication, 
where  her  feet  were  so  completely  roasted,  that  it  was  found  necessary 
to  amputate  them  both.  A  man  in  a  severe  rain  lay  drunk  in  a  ditch, 
and  was  in  imminent  danger  by  damming  up  the  water, of  being  drowned. 
Some  professors  of  religion  were  reported  at  the  last  meeting,  as  doing 
more  to  oppose  the  reformation,  than  all  other  things  combined.  Some 
opposers  have  attempted  to  blend  temperance  with  politics.  They  have 
their  reward.  The  friends  of  the  cause  deem  it  of  the  first  importance 
that  it  should  stand  upon  its  own  basis,  distinct  from  any  political  party 
or  religious  sect.  The  prosperity  of  the  cause  is  much  as  is  the  effort 
to  promote  it. 

AUXILIARIES. 

Tolland .  320  members.  Much  has  been  done  in  this  place,  but  nc? 
report  except  of  numbers  has  been  received. 

Bolton ,  161  members,  37  males,  104  females.  Two  retailers  in 
this  place,  yet  continue  to  sell  ardent  spirits. 

North  Coventry,  T.  Brewster,  President ;  E.  Hunt,  Secretary  ;  337 
members  ;  146  males,  191  females.  58  increase.  The  cause  is  pros¬ 
perous  here.  Yet  one  retailer  continues  to  vend  the  poison. 

South  Coventry,  Nathan  Howard  President ;  John  Dresser,  Secre¬ 
tary.  350  members.  141  males,  209  females.  Increase  177.  Here 
has  been  much  effort  and  much  success.  One  store  on  temperance 
principles.  Two  continue  to  sell.  Several  buildings  have  been  rais¬ 
ed  here  without  spirits.  Among  them  one  large  factory,  which  is  to 
be  conducted  without. 

Ellington ,  John  Hall,  President  ;  Luther  Wright,  Secretary.  203 
members.  3  members  have  been  expelled  for  violating  their  pledge. 
4  stores  sell  spirits. 

Gilead,  Rev.  C.  Nichols,  President.  Oliver  Wilcox,  Secretary. 
97  members  ;  30  males  ;  67  females.  45  increase.  Here  are  many 
valuable  orchards,  and  7  cider  distilleries,  and  the  cause  has  met  from 
them  a  steady  and  powerful  opposition.  No  means  of  paying  taxes 
will  be  left,  if  the  Temperance  cause  goes  on.  But  a  small  proportion 
of  the  Church  are  enrolled  as  Temperance  men.  \  et  the  friends  of 
the  cause  are  firm,  and  look  forward  to  certain  victory. 

Hebron,  Nathan  Smith,  President;  David  Gillet,  Secretary.  212 


CONNECTICUT  TEMPERANCE  SOCIETY 


i  a 


members;  75  males,  137  females.  Increase  100.  Two  have  been 
expelled  for  violating  their  pledge.  Four  retailers  have  stopped  re¬ 
tailing  ardent  spirits  ;  three  continue  to  sell.  One  distillery  has  been 
abandoned.  Of  170  members  of  the  Congregational  Church,  130  are 
members  of  the  Temperance  Society.  Methodists  are  becoming  ac¬ 
tive  in  the  cause. 

North  Mansfield,  Elisha  Williams,  President ;  Archibald  Welch, 
Secretary.  160  members. 

South  Mansfield.  Zalmon  Storrs,  President ;  Dan  Burrows,  Secreta¬ 
ry.  210  members. 

Sotners ,  Oliver  Chapin,  2d,  President.  S.  D.  Chapin,  Secretary. 
340  members.  45  increase.  Two  retailers  of  ardent  spirits. 

East-Stafford ,  Rev.  M.  B.  Church,  President ;  M.  Grant,  Secreta¬ 
ry.  130  members;  4 7  males,  83  females.  Seven  taverns,  and  four 
groceries,  where  the  drink  of  the  drunkard  may  be  had  for  money. 

Vernon ,  Francis  King,  President;  Allyn  Kellogg,  Secretary.  251 
members  ;  99  males,  152  females. 

Willington ,  John  Turner,  President  ;  Elisha  Bridgham,  Secretary. 
412  members  ;  182  males;  250  females,  one-third  of  the  population. 
110  increase.  This  is  a  very  flourishing  Society.  One  retailer  has 
stopped  selling.  At  one  meeting  it  was  resolved  that  each  member  pre¬ 
sent  should  endeavor  to  gain  one  new  member  before  the  next  meeting. 
58  were  the  fruit  of  this  new  effort. 

Columbia ,  Silas  Fuller,  President ;  Warren  Fuller,  Secretary.  150 
members. 

Andover ,  John  Townsend,  President;  John  Bull,  Secretary.  139 
members;  50  males;  89  females.  66  increase.  Four-fifths  of  the 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  this  place  belong  to  the  Tem¬ 
perance  Society.  Also  three  members  of  other  churches.  A  large 
building  for  a  paper  mill  was  raised  in  this  place  during  the  coldest 
weather  of  last  winter  without  ardent  spirits. 

West  Stafford,  118  members;  48  males  ;  70  females.  Five  stores 
here  retail  ardent  spirits. 

Union ,  Rev.  Mr.  Beardsley,  President  ;  David  Lanson,  Secretary. 
40  members. 


NEW-LONDON  COUNTY. 

Society  organized  June  30,  1829. 

WILLIAM  P.  GREENE,  Esq.  President. 

.  Gen.  J.  Is  ham,  Vice  President. 

■  Wm.  C.  Gilman,  Esq.  Secretary. 

Francis  A.  Perkins,  Treasurer. 

No  report  has  been  received  from  the  Secretary.  My  ill  health  and 
absence  from  home  this  spring,  are,  he  says  in  a  letter  to  the  commit¬ 
tee,  my  apology.  No  change  of  officers,  he  adds,  in  the  different  asso¬ 
ciations,  had  been  communicated  since  the  last  report.  Mr.  Frost  has 


20 


THIRD  ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE 


addressed  several  of  the  associations,  and  with  great  acceptance  ;  but 
we  need  a  great  deal  more  effort  in  this  county  to  keep  up  with  the 
wants  of  the  cause. 

Thus  without  information,  the  committee  can  add  but  little  to  what 
was  communicated  last  year.  The  number  of  auxiliaries  then  reported 
was  21,  embracing  3,121  members.  It  has  now  2*1  auxiliaries,  and 
It  is  believed  that  the  number  of  members  may  now  be  put  at  3,500. 
In  1830,45  retailers  out  of  141,  had  abandoned  the  traffic.  It  is  hoped 
that  the  friends  of  temper  ance  in  this  county  will  speedilyawake  to 
new  efforts,  and  be  first  in  the  cause. 

AUXILIARIES. 

New-London ,  Society  formed  July,  1 829  ;  Win.  P.  Cleveland,  Presi¬ 
dent  ;  A.  M.  Frink,  Secretary.  Members,  120. 

Bozrah ,  Society  formed  Nov.  11,  1829; - ,  President; 

Doct.  James  Johnson,  Secretary.  50  members;  20  males;  30  fe¬ 
males. 

Bozrahville ,  Society  formed  July  16,  1827,  - ,  President; 

Sam’l  Mourie,  Secretary.  118  members  ;  52  males.  Two  stores  were 
here  reported  as  Temperance  stores.  The  large  manufacturing  establish¬ 
ments  here  are  conducted  without  ardent  spirits. 

Chesterfield,  Society  formed  July  6,  1 829,  S.  G.  Thatcher,  President ; 
I.  Kingsly,  Jr.  Secretary.  131  members;  63  males. 

Colchester ,  Society  formed  July  22,  1829,  Charles  P.  Otis,  Presi¬ 
dent;  Samuel  H.  Fox,  Secretary.  250  members  ;  110  males. 
Franklin ,  80  members. 

Griswold ,  Society  formed  Sept.  17,  1829,  Rev.  H.  Waldo,  Presi¬ 
dent  ;  James  Tyler,  Jr.  Secretary.  201  members  ;  98  males.  Five 
stores  were  reported  here  as  unwilling  to  sell  the  poison. 

Groton ,  Society  formed  March,  1828,  Rev.  Timothy  Tuttle,  Presi¬ 
dent  ;  Samuel  A.  Newton,  Secretary.  A  good  report  has  been  received 
from  this  society  by  the  Committee.  Perhaps  no  place,  says  the  Sec¬ 
retary,  furnishes  so  strong  an  opposition  to  the  cause  as  Groton  ;  still 
the  infatuating  demv\  is  daily  losing  his  dominion,  his  subjects  are  re¬ 
volting,  and  his  soldiers  deserting  his  camp  ;  while  entire  abstinence 
moves  forward  with  a  steady  and  certain  pace.  For  the  first  year,  our 
Society  had  no  increase,  and  was  apparently  without  influence  ;  since 
then  it  has  increased  about  50  annually.  The  Noank  Society  has  re¬ 
cently  been  formed  out  of  us,  leaving  us  1 78  members  ;  68  males  ;  110 
females.  There  are  here  18  licensed  retailers,  and  6  taverns,  who 
sell  ardent  spirits.  One  retailer  has  lately  ceased,  who  says  his  other 
business  is  better  for  it. 

Noank  Society ,  formed  January,  1832.  Elder  Roswell  Burroughs, 
President ;  30  members. 

Jewitt  City ,  Society  formed  November  28,  1828.  Doct.  Lucius 
Tyler,  President;  Rev.  Seth  Bliss,  Secretary;  135  members;  63. 
males. 


CONNECTICUT  TEMPERANCE  SOCIETY. 


Si 


Lebanon,  Society  formed  November  9,  1829.  William  T.  Wil¬ 
liams,  President;  Denison  Wattles,  Jr.  Secretary.  132  members. 
58  males. 

Lebanon ,  Goshen,  Society  formed  August  27,  1829.  Rev.  Erastus 
Ripley,  President ;  J.  G.  McCall,  Secretary.  99  members.  43  males. 

Exeter ,  Society  formed  March  18,  1830.  Tim.  Williams,  Presi¬ 
dent  ;  Charles  Abel,  Secretary.  25  members. 

Lisbon,  New  ant,  Society  formed  April  17,  1829.  Rev.  Levi  Nelson, 
President;  Elisha  Branch,  Secretary.  90  members.  43  males. 

Hanover,  Society  formed  September  28,  1829.  B.  Huntington, 
President ;  Doct.  Rufus  Smith,  Secretary,  jo  members  ;  32  males. 

Mystic  Bridge,  Society  formed  December,  1831.  Asa  Fish,  Esq. 
President.  30  members. 

Montville ,  Society  formed  March  31,  1830.  N.  Bradford,  President  ; 
Samuel  Palfrey,  Secretary.  183  members;  86  males. 

New  Salem ,  Rev.  Eli  Hyde  President  ;  Doct.  W,  Morgan,  Secretary, 
83  members  ;  36  males. 

Norwich,  Society  formed  April  17,  1829.  I.  A.  Perkins,  President  ; 
Edward  Whiting,  Secretary.  290  members. 

Norwich ,  (Bean  Hill)  Society  formed  Dec.  1831.  Eber  Backus, 
President ;  Roger  Huntington,  Secretary.  Members  not  reported. 

Norwich  Falls ,  Society  formed  July  28,  1827.  200  members  ;  110 

males.  The  cause  has  many  warm  friends,  and  has  good  success  in 
Norwich.  A  nail  factory,  a  rolling  mill,  slitting  mill,  iron  foundery, 
cotton  and  woollen  mills,  and  other  manufacturing  establishments,  have 
for  a  long  period  been  conducted  without  ardent  spirits.  It  is  regret¬ 
ted  that  a  minute  report  has  not  been  received  from  this  place. 

North  Stonington ,  Society  formed  June  18,  1828.  Hon.  William 
Randall,  President ;  Isaac  I.  Langworthy,  Secretary.  A  full  report 
has  been  received  from  this  most  active  society.  Number  of  members 
361;  176  males,  185  females.  Increase  since  last  July,  150.  District 
meetings  have  been  held  here  to  great  advantage.  The  National  Circular 
is  purchased  to  be  put  into  every  family.  Only  two  persons  applied  last 
January  for  licenses,  and  they  were  refused.  One  of  these  was  a  pro¬ 
fessor  of  religion.  The  Congregational  Church,  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  the  Rev.  J.  Ayer,  have  unanimously  voted  the  pledge  of  entire 
abstinence  essential  to  admission.  One  vender,  wishing  to  abandon  the 
unholy  traffic,  offered  to  sell  his  liquor  at  cost  to  any  one  who  would 
purchase  and  destroy  it.  A  benevolent  individual  purchased  it,  and 
poured  it  on  the  ground.  Opposition  here  is  violent.  The  cry  of 
Priestcraft,  Church  and  State,  is  rung  aloud. 

Preston,  Society  formed  March  1,  1830.  Elder  S.  Meach,  President ; 
Warren  Andrews,  Secretary.  230  members. 

Stonington ,  Society  formed  -A pril  17,  1829-  - — — ,  President  5 

A  G.  Smith,  Secretary.  203  members. 


THIRD  ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE 


%1 

LITCHFIELD  COUNTY. 


Society  organized  June  23,  1829- 
Hon.  JOHN  COTTON  SMITH,  LL.D.  President . 


Vice 
>  Presidents . 


Doct.  Wm.  Buel,  'j 
Joseph  Battell, 

Samuel  Lyman, 

Doct.  Ndrman  Lyman, 

Anon  Hine, 

William  G.  Williams, 

Elisha  Sterling, 

Tertius  D.  Patten,  j 
Richard  Smith,  Sharon,  Secretary , 

Doct.  Alanson  Abbe,  Litchfield,  Treasurer. 


This  flourishing  Society  reports  34  auxiliaries,  and  7000  members. 
All  its  auxiliaries  have  been  visited  the  last  year  by  Daniel  Frost,  the 
state  agent,  with  much  effect.  The  County  Society  adopted,  at  a  re¬ 
cent  meeting,  a  resolution  that  a  Temperance  constitution  be  presented 
to  every  family  in  the  County,  and  that  every  individual  of  proper  age 
be  solicited  to  subscribe.  The  resolution  contemplates  the  introduc¬ 
tion  of  all  youth  above  12  years  of  age.  District  meetings  are  held  in 
some  towns,  and  made  interesting  and  profitable.  By  means  of  these 
opportunities  to  discuss  the  subject,  those,  says  the  Secretary,  in  the 
outskirts  of  a  town,  are  informed  of  the  immense  mischiefs  of  intempe¬ 
rance,  and  the  easy  remedy  ;  many  prejudices  are  removed,  and  large 
accessions  are  made  to  the  societies.  Our  clergymen,  he  adds,  are  in 
the  habit  of  introducing  the  subject  into  their  sermons  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  whenever  it  is  done,  it  awakens  the  audience  to  new  interest,  and 
is  always  the  subject  of  approving  remark.  The  cause  of  Temperance 
in  the  County  is  rising.  Addresses  the  most  pointed  and  searching 
are  well  received  ;  and  although  they  may  occasionally  produce  some 
uneasiness  in  particular  auditors,  yet  these  same  persons  dare  not  de¬ 
nounce  them.  I  think  I  can  safely  say  that  nearly  all  the  judicious  and 
reflecting  men  in  the  County  are  either  members  of  Temperance  so¬ 
cieties,  or  have  adopted  the  principle  of  total  abstinence. 


AUXILIARIES. 


Sharon ,  Richard  Smith,  President;  Charles  H.  Read,  Secretary. — 
50G  members.  But  one  store  where  spirits  are  sold.  7  discon¬ 
tinue  the  sale.  One  furnace  of  large  business  uses  none.  Farmers 
generally  dispense  with  it.  One  farmer  had  1000  sheep  washed  and 
sheared  without  the  aid  of  spirits.  6  deaths,  6  families  reduced  to  pau¬ 
perism,  and  20  drunkards,  the  fruit  here  of  strong  drink. 

Plymouth , - ,  President;  Doct.  Wm.  Woodruff,  Secretary. 

•470  members  ;  22S  males,  242  females.  Increase  184.  District  meet- 


CONNECTICUT  TEMPERANCE!  SOCIETY. 


*3 

Ings  hare  been  held  in  this  place  to  great  effect.  3  distilleries  hare 
been  abandoned — 4  merchants  have  quit  the  traffic.  One  only  dares 
continue  in  it  on  his  way  to  judgment.  In  one  church  of  400  members, 
90  shut  their  eyes  against  the  light,  and  plead  they  cannot  see  it  their 
duty  to  jo.n.  Most  of  the  manufacturing  establishments  are  worked 
without  the  poison.  One  young  woman  has  been  reduced  by  it  to  com¬ 
plete  idiocy. 

Northjield,  Chauncey  Warner.  President;  A.  W.  Warner,  Secreta¬ 
ry.  100  members.  Here  opposition  to  the  cause  has  been  violent ; 
but  it  has  recently  much  subsided. 

Winchester ,  (Centre)  Levi  Platt,  President;  Samuel  Hurlburt,  Sec¬ 
retary.  183  members  ;  90  males,  and  93  females.  Increase  since 
October  23.  One  taverner,  one  distiller,  and  two  venders,  have  come 
under  the  power  of  the  Temperance  reformation.  One  taverner,  one 
distiller,  and  two  venders  still  resist  it,  and  choose  to  risk  the  conse¬ 
quences.  60  members  of  the  Church  have  rejoiced  in  the  Temperance 
cause,  and  44  frown  upon  it.  44  families  close  their  doors  against  the 
poison,  and  49  welcome  it  to  their  abode — 3  drunkards  out  of  5  reform¬ 
ed — 18  have  been  destroyed  in  12  years,  poisoned  by  ardent  spirits  ;  and 
21  families  reduced  by  it  to  want.  100  gallons  only  have  been  sold 
here  the  past  year — formerly  900  found  a  ready  market.  Business  of 
lawyers  almost  at  an  end. 

Winsted,  — -  - ,  President;  Wm.  S.  Boyd,  Secretar}r.  240 

members;  123  males,  1 17  females.  Ten  taverns  and  grog-shops  li¬ 
censed  by  the  authority  to  scatter  abroad  the  means  of  pauperism  and 
death  ;  yet  many  of  the  venders  sick  of  their  business,  and  would  aban¬ 
don  it  if  others  would.  Need  moral  courage. 

Washington ,  Samuel  Leavitt,  President ;  Anthony  Smith,  Secretary. 
122  members.  This  society  has  been  recently  organized. 

New  Preston ,  Samuel  Averill,  President  ;  Roger  N.  Whittlesey, 
Secretary.  172  members  ;  73  males,  99  females — 135  of  the  whole 
professors  of  religion,  30  of  them  young  converts.  Three  of  six  stores 
sell  none  of  the  drunkard’s  drink.  More  than  half  of  the  farmers,  and 
27  mechanical  establishments  use  it  not.  Episcopalians  engage  not 
here  in  the  work  of  benevolence.  Juvenile  Branch,  30  members,  3 
of  these  professors  of  religion. 

Woodbury ,  Judson  Blackman,  President;  Elijah  Sherman,  Jr.  Sec¬ 
retary.  281  members;  127  males,  154  females.  Six  stores  boldly 
continue  the  traffic — 3  wash  their  hands  from  guilt.  20  families  have 
here  been  reduced  to  want — 43  drunkards  are  on  their  way  to  eternity 
— one  hard  drinker  has  become  a  convict,  and  may  in  prison  be  reform¬ 
ed.  The  Methodists  in  this  place  were  early  opposed,  but  have  lately 
come  nobly  into  the  work.  One  reformed  drunkard  has  become  hope¬ 
fully  pious — strong  opposition  exists,  but  it  is  useful  to  the  cause. 

Goshen.  Erastus  Lyman,  President  ;  Lewis  M.  Norton,  Secretary. 
284  members  ;  102  males,  182  females.  Of  seven  stores,  only  2  con¬ 
tinue  to  sell,  and  they  sell  but  little.  In  this  town  were  retailed,  in  ten 
years  previous  to  the  commencement  of  the  Temperance  reformation, 


third  annual  report  of  the 


24 


36  400  gallons  of  ardent  spirits,  which  at  60  cents  a  gallon,  cost  the  in¬ 
habitants  21,840  dolls.  Now  very  little  is  consumed,  and  most  of  this 
waste  is  saved,  and  its  idleness,  poverty,  crime,  and  ungodliness 

^°Torringford,  Doct.  I.  Case,  President ;  Giles  A.  Gaylord,  Secreta¬ 
ry.  190  members  ;  85  males,  105  females.  Increase  48.  One  tav¬ 
ern  and  2  stores  sell  when  they  think  proper;  yet  our  merchants  are 
on  the  temperance  roll,  and  it  is  a  serious  injury.  Six  distilleries  are 
here  run.  About  one  half  the  Church  belong  to  the  Temperance  so- 


Wolcottville,  90  members.  This  society  has  been  recently  formed 

in  a  manufacturing  village.  _  r  ,,  ,  c  , 

New  Milford,  Abel  Hine,  President ;  Henry  M.Mahon,  Secretary. 


South  Canaan ,  Stephen  Lane,  President ;  Doct.  Blatchly,  Secretary. 
236  members  ;  3  Temperance  stores  :  3  still  risk  the  judgment  of  God 
in  selling— 30  drunkards  tottering  over  the  grave.  Five  working  es¬ 
tablishments  reject  the  enfeebling  poision. 

Salisbury ,  Elisha  Sterling,  President ;  More  Chittenden,  Secretary. 

300  members.  . 

Norfolk ,  Joseph  Battell,  President ;  B.  Birge,  Secretary.  391  mem¬ 
bers.  Juvenile  Society,  85  members. 

Litchfield ,  Doct.  Wm.  Buell,  President ;  - ,  Secretary.  180 

members.  Great  apathy  prevails  here,  in  the  heart  of  the  County. 

Harxinton,  Marvin  Griswold,  President;  David  Catlin,  Secretary. 
360  members.  A  very  prosperous  society.  Diminution  in  the  use  of 
liquor  7-8.  14  cider  distilleries  abandoned — 15  continue  to  run.  15 

families  reduced  to  poverty  by  spirits — 44  drunkards,  8  reformed— 35 
working  establishments  reject  the  poison.  One  convict  from  drinking. 

Cnlebrook ,  Rev.  T.  Lawcomb,  President ;  John  H.  Rogers,  Secreta¬ 
ry.  240  members— 3  Temperance  stores  ;  2  continue  the  traffic. 

Kent.  140  members. 

Ellsworth ,  Doct.  Clark  Chapman,  President;  - ,  Secretary. 

123  members — 2  Temperance  stores;  1  continues  to  sell  ;  10  drunk¬ 
ards  ;  5  families  reduced  to  want ;  2  paupers,  made  such  by  intemper- 

3QCC* 

N ew- Hartford,  (North)  John  Brown,  President  ;  Wm.  G.  Williams, 
Secretary.  130  members — 5  working  establishments  exclude  spirits — 
2  drunkards  reformed. 

New -Hartford,  Rev.  C.  ^  ale,  President ;  Doct.  A.  Abernethy,  Sec¬ 
retary.  153  members.  The  Temperance  cause  has  flourished  much 
here  ;  but  for  the  past  season  has  been  neglected  on  account  ot  a  revi¬ 
val.  Quere,  Is  this  right  ? 

Watertoicn ,  Rev.  D.  O.  Griswold,  President; - ,  Secretary. 

155  members. 

South  Farms, - ,  President;  Dr.  G.  H.  Miner,  Secretary. 

127  members  ;  43  males,  74  females— 78  Professors  cf  religion  cut  of 


CONNECTICUT  TEMPERANCE  SOCIETY. 


25 


220.  One  Temperance  store.  Many  influential  persons  have  lately 
joined  the  society. 

Bethlem.  116  members. 

Riga , - ,  President;  James  Pettee,  Jr.  Secretary.  120 

members.  All  the  iron  furnaces  in  this  place  are  conducted  without 
ardent  spirits.  The  article  is  not  to  be  bought  in  the  place.  One  bar¬ 
rel  was  formerly  used  on  an  average  annually,  by  each  family. 

North  Cornwall ,  N.  Hart,  President ;  Rev.  W.  Smith,  Secretary. 
77  members. 

Roxhury ,  Thomas  Hurd,  President ;  C.  Whittlesey,  Secretary.  168 
members.  One  distillery  stopped  in  consequence  of  the  Temperance 
reformation.  Two  hat  factories,  and  one  furnace,  and  several  farms 
are  conducted  without  spirits.  One  store  has  commenced  on  Temper¬ 
ance  principles. 

Milton ,  70  members — 1  Temperance  store;  6  drunkards  going  to 
ruin.  148  families  still  use  the  poison  ;  20  reject  it  as  ruinous  to  body 

and  soul. 


FAIRFIELD  COUNTY. 


Society  organized  Oct.  21,  1829- 
Hon.  GIDEON  TOMLINSON,  President. 

Hon.  Roger  M.  Sherman, 

Hon.  Clarke  Bissell, 

Mr.  Isaac  Ives, 

Rev.  Thomas  Punderson,  I  PresidenU. 
Eliphalet  St.  John,  Esq. 

Rev.  Mr.  Judah, 

Rev.  Mr.  Ellis, 

Hawley  Olmsted,  Esq.  J 

Rev.  Joel  Mann,  Greenwich,  Secretary. 

Mr.  Samuel  A.  Nichols,  Treasurer. 


In  this  County,  says  the  secretary,  in  his  report,  the  progress  of  tem¬ 
perance  has  been  encouraging.  At  the  meeting  in  January  last,  the  So¬ 
ciety  resolved  to  put  the  Circular  of  the  New- York  State  Temperance 
Society  into  every  family  in  the  County  willing  to  receive  it,  for  the 
signature  of  all  favorably  disposed.  This  has  been  accomplished,  and 
the  result  has  been  the  addition  of  785  names,  pledged  to  the  principle 
of  entire  abstinence,  making  the  whole  number  of  members  3519,  in 
21  auxiliaries. 

On  the  success  of  the  cause,  says  the  Secretary,  is  suspended  the 
welfare  of  our  beloved  country.  A  nation  of  intemperate  men  cannot 
long  govern  itself.  A  government  composed  of  men  whose  elections 
to  office  have  been  obtained  by  the  influence  of  ardent  spirits,  cannot  be 
a  virtuous  or  stable  government.  A  fabric  composed  of  such  materi¬ 
als  must  soon  crumble  and  fall.  Toward  this  state  of  things  wre  have 
been  rapidly  advancing.  Intemperance,  in  all  its  forms  and  degrees, 

4 


26 


THIRD  ANNUAL  REPORT  Of  THE 


is  a  common  vice  among  all  classes  of  our  citizens.  In  some  towns? 
one  half,  and  in  some  probably  two-thirds  of  the  adult  population,  has 
been  more  or  less  intemperate  ;  and  this  shocking  vice  was  increasing 
with  amazing  rapidity.  The  election  of  public  officers  has  been  and 
still  is,  in  an  alarming  degree,  under  the  influence  of  Intemperance. 
It  is  therefore  a  matter  of  surprise  and  sorrow  that  men  professing  god¬ 
liness  and  love  of  their  country,  should  refuse  to  aid  the  temperance 
cause,  and,  as  in  many  cases,  openly  to  oppose  it.  Such  persons  are 
inflicting  a  great  injury  on  their  country,  and  on  the  church,  and  on  the 
souls  of  their  fellow-men.  They  are  unquestionably  doing  more  than 
all  other  persons  to  perpetuate  an  evil  which  is  the  greatest  ever  ex¬ 
perienced  in  this  land.  To  God  they  must  answer  it  in  that  day  when 
he  will  render  to  every  man  according  to  his  deeds. 


AUXILIARIES. 

Greenwich ,  second  Parish,  Dea.  Darius  Mead,  President ;  Rev.  E, 
C.  Clark,  Secretary.  401  members  ;  increase,  140,  by  the  Circular. 
No  distillery  now  exists  here.  3  stores  have  abandoned  the  traffic  in 
ardent  spirits.  One  vessel  sails  without.  The  most  extensive  farmers 
in  the  place  are  decided  temperance  men,  and  a  large  proportion  of 
the  members  of  the  church  are  warm  friends  to  the  cause,  but  some 
violently  oppose  it,  and  utterly  refuse  to  read  or  hear  any  thing  on  the 
subject,  when  they  can  decently  avoid  it. 

Juvenile  Society ,  in  the  Academy,  60  members. 

Greenwich ,  North  Society,  1 40  members  ;  1  7  added  by  the  Circular. 
The  temperance  cause  has  received  in  this  place,  the  prompt  attention 
of  its  friends. 

Stamoich,  -  - ,  President  ;  Platt  Brush,  Secretary.  211 

members.  61  added  by  the  Circular.  Much  opposition  here  from  an 
unexpected  quarter  ;  even  from  professors  of  religion  ;  O  tell  it  not 
in  Gath. 

Stamford ,  40  members,  previous  to  the  distribution  of  the  Circular. 
Not  heard  from  since. 

North  Stamford ,  Dea.  A.  Scofield,  President  ;  Rev.  H.  Fuller,  Se¬ 
cretary.  91  members.  One  store  kept  by  a  Methodist  professor, 
who  sells  no  distilled  liquor.  Four  places  remain  where  the  drunkard 
can  roll  and  wallow  in  his  shame.  Two  of  them  kept  b}r  professed 
Christians.  6  or  8  farms  worked  without  rum.  Reputedly  good  men 
a  great  hindrance  here  to  this  work  of  benevolence. 

New  Canaan ,  Eliphalet  St.  John,  President ;  John  C.  Hart,  Secre¬ 
tary.  123  members.  Greatest  discouragement  from  the  indifference, 
if  not  opposition  of  those  who  are  expected  to  be  the  patrons  of  every 
good  work. 

Darien ,  Walter  Whitney,  President;  Henry  Morehouse,  Secretary. 
164  members  ;  36  by  the  Circular.  Of  5  stores,  4  vend  ardent  spirit  ; 
and  one  of  them  is  kept  by  a  professor  of  godliness.  Such  professors 
are  our  greatest  hindrance.  Treating  and  tippling  at  stores  and  ta- 


CONNECTICUT  TEMPER ANCE  SOCIETY.  t7 

verns,  is  nearly  at  an  end.  One  reformed  drunkard  is  a  reputable 
member  of  the  society. 

Norwalk ,  Hon.  Clark  Bissel,  President ;  Henry  Whittlesey,  Secre¬ 
tary.  385  members  ;  179  by  the  Circular.  6  taverns  and  17  shops, 
have  here  the  past  year  furnished  ardent  spirits.  One  extensive  firm 
has  relinquished  the  sale  within  two  months.  There  has  been  a  pro¬ 
gressive  movement  in  the  temperance  cause  among  us.  Many  persons, 
much  opposed,  have  been  brought  to  think  more  favorably  of  it. 

Bridgeport , - ,  President;  D.  B.  Turner,  Secretary.  136 

members. 

Young  Men's,  — —  • — — ,  President;  D.  B.  Turner,  Secretary. 
39l  members  ;  250  by  the  Circular.  Present  prospects  very  flattering. 

Stratford ,  James  H.  Lindsley,  President  ; - ,  Secretary. 

380  members  ;  increase  200.  The  temperance  cause  has  recently  be¬ 
come  popular  here,  and  wrought  great  changes  among  the  people. 
Members  almost  daily  increasing.  Seven  drunkards  reformed.  Two 
years  since,  one  was  offered  twenty  dollars  not  to  drink  any  ardent  spir¬ 
it  in  a  year ;  he  accepted  the  offer,  and  entirely  abstained  ;  at  the  ex¬ 
piration  of  the  year,  he  was  offered  by  his  old  comrades,  twenty  dollars 
more  to  drink  ;  he  refused,  and  has  since  entertained  the  hope  that  he 
has  experienced  religion. 

Trumbull .  Federal  Brinsmnde,  President ;  Ali  Brinsrnade,  Secretary. 
35  members.  We  trust  we  shall  receive  additional  strength  soon. 
Professors  of  religion  a  great  hindrance. 

Munroe,  Den.  Edmund  Lewis,  President  ;  Doct.  H.  C.  Beardslee, 
Secretary.  100  members;  32  males  ;  68  females,  doubled  in  a  year. 
Circular  has  clone  much  good  in  this  place.  The  Methodists  have  here 
organized  an  independent  association.  We  anticipate  much  good  from 
their  exertions,  and  heartily  wish  them  success. 

Brookfield , - ,  President;  C.  Stuart,  Secretary.  1 17  mem¬ 

bers  ;  increase,  43.  One  store  has  stopped  selling.  The  opposition 
here,  if  there  is  any,  is  secret,  except  in  a  few  cases  where  interest  or 
appetite  has  a  controlling  influence. 

Fairfield ,  Rev.  John  Hunter,  President ;  Charles  Bennet,  Secreta¬ 
ry.  285  members  ;  102  by  the  Circular.  One  temperance  store. 

Weston,  100  members.  Society  just  formed.  Two  temperance 
stores. 

Ridgefield ,  160  members.  Circular  not  yet  distributed.  Three 
temperance  stores. 

Danbury ,  Isaac  Ives,  President  ;  Curtis  Clark.  Secretary.  120 
members. 

Wilton ,  Levi  Scribner,  President ;  Hawley  Olmsted,  Secretary. 
110  members. 

Newtown,  Samuel  C.  Blackman,  President;  Elizur  W.  Keeler,  Se^ 
cretary.  130  members.  A  strong  hold  of  Intemperance  ;  but  much 
has  been  effected  here  ;  one  temperance  store.  Several  factories  are 
conducted  without  ardent  spirits.  Water  power  has  proved  more  ma¬ 
nageable  and  profitable  than  steam. 


28 


THIRD  ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE 


Juvenile  Association ,  130  members. 

From  most  of  the  Societies  in  the  Eastern  section  of  the  County, 
says  Mr.  Mann,  no  report  has  been  received.  A  favorable  beginning 
in  this  great  reformation  has  been  made,  but  it  is  only  a  beginning. 
The  enemy  is  dismayed,  but  not  vanquished.  And  many  vigorous  ex¬ 
ertions  wisely  directed,  and  well  sustained,  are  indispensable  to  final 
success. 


HARTFORD  COUNTY. 

Society  organized  Oct.  13,  1829. 

SETH  TERRY,  Esq..  Hartford,  President. 

[Vice  Presidents  and  Executive  Committee  not  reported.] 

Rev.  Sam’l  H.  Riddell,  Glastenbury,  Secretary. 

In  his  report,  the  Secretary  congratulates  the  friends  of  Temperance 
upon  the  steady  progress  of  the  cause  in  the  County  from  the  first. — 
Five  new  auxiliaries  have  been  formed  since  our  last  anniversary,  ma¬ 
king  the  whole  number  of  auxiliary  societies  36.  Three  oi  these  aux¬ 
iliaries  have  been  instituted  exclusively  by  young  people.  There  is 
now  a  Temperance  Association  in  nearly  every  parish  or  school  society 
in  the  County.  The  number  of  individuals  who  have  united  with  these 
societies,  and  adopted  the  “  Infallible  Antidote”  to  Intemperance  and 
its  evils,  first  published  to  the  world  perhaps,  if  not  first  discovered 
here,  is  9,000.  Increase  since  the  last  anniversary,  3,575*  Besides, 
there  are  some  hundreds  belonging  to  Temperance  societies  not  auxil¬ 
iary,  so  that  not  far  from  10,000,  one-fifth  of  our  population,  have  given 
their  pledge  of  entire  abstinence.  These  are  from  all  professions,  oc¬ 
cupations,  and  ranks  of  society — of  every  age  from  10  to  100,  including 
especially  a  large  portion  ot  that  class  who  are  just  entering  upon  the 
active  stage  of  life.  In  one  of  our  largest  and  most  central  parishes  it  is 
remarked,  that  there  is  scarcely  a  youth  who  makes  any  pretensions  to 
respectability,  who  is  not  a  member  of  the  Temperance  society. 

A  greater  interest,  says  the  Secretary,  has  been  felt  in  the  cause  of 
Temperance  in  the  last  three  months,  than  at  any  former  period.  And 
he  attributes  this  to  the  recent  revivals  of  religion.  He  also  recognizes, 
as  a  means  of  advancing  the  cause,  the  labors  of  the  State  agent,  Daniel 
Frost,  Jr.  Esq.  The  monthly  meeting  has  been  continued  with  deep 
interest ;  often  two  or  three  places  asking  for  it  at  the  same  time,  and 
yet  all  the  auxiliaries  have  not  been  visited. 

In  giving  the  results  of  the  Temperance  reformation  in  Hartford 
County,  the  Secretary  says,  that  since  it  commenced,  near  10,000  of  the 
inhabitants  have  entirely  relinquished  the  use  oi  ardent  spirits,  and 
banished  them  from  their  families,  their  farms,  and  their  shops  ;  28 
distilleries  have  ceased  to  make  the  drink  of  the  drunkard— 16  from  a 
consciousness  that  the  business  was  morally  wrong  ;  27  retailing  stores 
have  ceased  retailing  ardent  spirits.  21  from  temperance  principles  ; 
and  31  stores  have  been  established  without  vending  the  article.  In 


CONNECTICUT  TEMPERANCE  SOCIETY. 


29 


three  parishes,  the  article  is  not  retailed  in  Tiny  store.  The  number 
of  taverns  is  not  so  great  as  formerly  by  nine,  and  there  are  6  taverns 
in  which  spirits  are  not  kept.  45  reputed  drunkards,  have  been  ap¬ 
parently  reformed  and  restored  to  the  comforts  and  privileges  of  social 
domestic  life,  and  58  persons  who  were  formerly  intemperate  in  vari¬ 
ous  degrees,  are  now  members  of  temperance  Societies.  Many  fami¬ 
lies  have  been  obviously  improved  in  their  temporal  circumstances, 
in  consequence  of  the  change  in  their  individual  members.  It  is  the 
testimony  of  every  place,  exclusive  of  the  city,  that  intoxication  is  not 
as  frequently  witnessed  as  formerly.  394  farms,  93  mechanic  shops, 
and  51  factories  are  carried  on  in  the  County  without  ardent  spirits. 
44  frames  were  raised,  and  42  buildings  finished  without,  the  last  sea¬ 
son.  3  churches  have  within  a  few  months  become  temperance  church¬ 
es,  by  resolving  to  admit  no  members  hereafter  to  their  communion, 
who  either  make,  use,  sell  or  give  to  others  ardent  spirits.  The  little 
church  in  the  parish  of  Wapping,  in  East-Windsor,  has  the  honor  of 
first  setting  this  truly  Christian  example  to  her  sister  churches  ;  the 
honor  of  being  the  first  Temperance  Church  in  Hartford  County.  Wor¬ 
shipping  her  Saviour  in  the  simplicity  of  love,  in  her  small,  unfinished 
tabernacle,  she  little  thought  when  she  performed  this  act,  what  pre¬ 
eminence  she  wTas  earning  for  herself.  But  doubtless  (i  it  shall  be 
told  as  a  memorial  of  her”  when  tail  spires  and  Grecian  columns  shall 
have  crumbled  into  ruin.  The  other  churches  referred  to  are  the 
South  Congregational  church,  and  the  Free  church  in  the  city. 

But  while  the  Secretary  reports  these  highly  favorable  results,  he 
also  reports  the  following  WORK  TO  BE  DONE.  One  half  or  two- 
thirds  of  the  population  of  the  County,  yet  exposed  to  all  the  evils  inci¬ 
dent  to  the  use  of  spirits,  are  to  be  persuaded  to  abandon  them  entirely. 
149  distilleries,  blackening  the  heavens  of  29  parishes  with  their  smoke, 
and  converting  annually,  11,500  barrels  of  cider,  and  134,845  bushels 
of  grain  into  a  subtle  and  mischievous  poison,  which  they  pour  forth  by 
wholesale  and  retail  upon  a  deluded  and  suffering  community,  are, 
through  the  power  of  a  rectified  public  opinion,  to  be  abandoned.  185 
dealers  in  ardent  spirits,  88  of  whom  take  the  liberty,  contrary  to  law, 
to  sell  by  the  dram,  and  93  taverners  who  deal  out  the  poison  at  their 
bar,  are  to  be  convinced  that  they  are  very  guilty  in  supporting  their 
families,  by  beggaring  other  families,  exciting  men  to  vice  and  crime, 
and  ruining  body  and  soul  in  hell.  744  inebriates,  593  males,  and  145 
females,  400  of  whom  are  heads  of  families,  are,  if  possible,  to  be  re¬ 
claimed  from  drunkenness  before  they  go  down  to  the  grave.  900  children 
now  in  the  houses  of  drunkenness  are  to  have  a  better  allotment,  and  to 
be  rescued  from  the  example  of  a  drunken  father  or  drunken  mother.  37 
deaths,  the  number  occasioned  by  Intemperance  the  last  year,  are  to  be 
prevented  in  future  years.  In  the  County,  are  98  widows  of  drunkards 
and  1 6 1  fatherless  children,  of  the  same  under  age  ;  35  living  drunk¬ 
ards,  who  provide  nothing  for  their  families,  and  19  who  are  separated 
from  their  wives,  making  calls  upon  the  public.  Most  of  the  churches 
are  to  be  roused  from  a  strange  apathy,  towards  this  work.  As  yet 
they  generally  refuse  to  take  a  decided  stand  in  its  behalf.  A  large 


30 


THIRD  ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE 


majority  of  their  members  are  indeed  members  of  temperance  societies, 
but  many  are  not,whoon  that  account  are  a  great  obstacle  to  our  progress. 
28  professors  of  religion  run  dist  illeries.  50  furnish  materials  for  distilling. 
33  sell  ardent  spirits,  13  including  one  Deacon  ot  the  church,  keep  rum 
taverns.  All  these  are  yet  to  be  convinced  that  they  are  doing  a  busi¬ 
ness  totally  inconsistent  with  their  holy  profession.  In  the  city  of 
Hartford  particularly,  there  is  a  great  work  to  be  done.  There  intem¬ 
perance  yet  seems  to  maintain  its  strong  hold.  In  that  city  there  are 
indeed  1000  pledged  members,  and  more  are  uniting.  But  the  reforma¬ 
tion  seems  in  some  respects  to  have  made  through  the  influence  of  the 
traffic  less  progress  there  than  in  most  places  of  its  size  and  situation 
in  New-England  and  in  New-York.  There  are  79  dealers  in  ardent 
spirits,  18  wholesale — and  there  is  an  almost  unexampled  want  of  coun¬ 
tenance  and  co-operation  in  the  cause,  on  the  part  of  men  of  the  first 
respectability  in  civil  life. 

But  this  enterprising  Society  appears  to  be  in  no  way  daunted  by 
the  greatness  and  difficulties  of  the  work  before  them,  but  to  be  press¬ 
ing  ^on  cheerfully  to  an  assured  and  glorious  triumph.  Two  things 
seem  to  be  peculiarly  desirable  at  the  present  time,  by  the  friends  of 
the  cause.  First,  a  greater  array  of  talent  against  the  demoralizing  and 
destructive  evil,  Intemperance,  and  all  its  sources  ;  and  second,  greater 
decision  and  activity  in  the  churches. 

We  should  be  glad  to  see,  says  the  Secretary  in  his  report,  men  of 
profound  natural  and  medical  science,  immediately  employed  to  till 
the  Encyclopedia  under  the  various  heads  pertaining  to  this  subject, 
with  the  results  of  recent  analysis  and  investigation.  And  it  is  worthy 
the  genius  of  a  Cervantes  or  a  Butler,  if  such  were  to  be  found,  to  cari¬ 
cature  the  practices  and  the  base  and  frivolous  excuses  oi  those  who 
persevere  at  the  present  day  in  the  use  and  traffic  of  ardent  spirits,  and 
to  consign  them  to  the  eternal  amusement  and  ridicule  ol  mankind. 
What  might  not  another  M’Fingal,  coming  from  the  mod  distinguished 
citizen  of  Hartford,  accomplish  in  this  city  for  this  our  moral  revolu¬ 
tion,  by  revealing  in  their  true  plight,  the  traitors  ot  the  liberties,  the 
health  and  happiness  of  their  fellow-citizens,  as  they  almost  literally 

“  under  ground  descried  arc 
On  kegs  of  Ale,  and  seats  of  Cider.’ 

On  the  other  point,  the  secretary  remarks,  The  time  is  fully  come,  or 
may  easily  be  made  to  come,  when  the  churches  ought  to  act,  and  may 
act  on  this  subject.  There  is  no  need  of  their  longer  lying  under  the 
public  odium,  of  being  unfriendly  or  even  neutral  towards  this  cause. — 
A  large  majority  of  their  members  are  and  have  long  been  its  sworn 
friends.  Let  them  express  their  sentiments  decidedly  and  as  a  body  on 
this  subject,  and  resolve  that  they  will  admit  the  evil  which  now  cleaves 
to  them  no  longer  within  their  sacred  inclosures.  W  hen  the  sin  of  ma¬ 
king,  vending  and  using  ardent  spirits  shall  have  been  universally  brand¬ 
ed  by  the  Christian  Church  as  totally  inconsistent  with  the  Christian 
profession, it  will  soon  be  viewed  in  the  same  light  by  the  world.  Then, 


CONNECTICUT  TEMPERANCE  SOCIETY. 


34 


aiid  not  till  then,  will  the  temperance  reformation  become  perma¬ 
nent. 

The  Secretary  concludes  his  report  with  the  following  interesting 
item — There  has  been  a  revival  of  religion  in  the  past  year  in  every 
place  where  the  society  has  auxiliaries,  but  two.  The  number  of 
hopeful  conversions  has  been  rising  of  1500.  Of  these  more  than  700 
were  members  of  the  Temperance  Society  previous  to  their  conver¬ 
sion,  and  more  than  600  have  joined  since. 

AUXILIARIES. 

Hartford ,  Jared  Griswold,  Esq.  President;  A.  M.  Collins,  Secreta¬ 
ry.  1034  members.  In  this  place  are  79  venders  of  ardent  spirit ;  18 
wholesale,  74  retail.  From  one  fifth  to  one  fourth  of  the  population 
directly  or  indirectly  interested  in  the  traffic.  15  taverns  in  the  city  ; 
9  prolessors  of  religion  traffic  in  spirits  ;  twro  do.  keep  rum  taverns  ; 
four  or  five  do.  rent  cellars.  Three  temperance  stores  are  struggling 
for  existence.  South  and  Free  churches  are  temperance  churches. 
National  Circular  is  now  in  circulation,  and  many  are  signing  the  pledge. 

Bristol ,  C.  G.  Ives,  President ;  T.  M.  Roberts,  Secretary.  344 
members  ;  160  males,  184  females.  5  cider  distilleries  ;  6  retailers  ; 
1  temperance  store;  1  temperance  tavern;  20  farms;  14  mechanic 
shops  ;  12  factories  and  one  iurnace  carried  on  without  spirits.  16 
buildings,  besides  a  meeting-house,  raised  and  finished  without,  last 
year,  except  that  the  meeting-house  is  not  yet  finished. 

New  Britain,  N.  W.  Stanley,  President  ;  H.  Stanley,  Secretary. 
549  members.  4  cider  distilleries,  which  consume  yearly,  about  7,000 
barrels  of  cider,  and  produce  21,000  gallons  of  spirit.  No  retailer  in 
the  parish  since  last  March.  One  temperance  store.  Many  mechanic 
shops  carried  on  without  spirits. 

Kensington, - ,  President ;  Shelden  Moore,  Secretary.  33 

members;  20  males,  13  females.  5  cider  distilleries,  make  4,500  gal¬ 
lons  spirit.  There  is  no  store  or  tavern  in  this  parish. 

Worthington,  J.  Galpin,  President;  H.  Gndley,  Secretary.  219 
members  ;  3  retailers  ;  2  taverns.  rI  he  reformation  here  began  late, 
but  makes  a  very  pleasing  progress. 

Burlington,  Z.  Hotchkiss,  President ;  C.  Hamlin,  Secretary.  174 
members  ;  73  males,  101  females.  7  cider  distilleries;  2  retailers  ;  1 
temperance  store  ;  17  temperance  farms,  and  4  shops. 

Canton,  Vv .  H.  Ilallock,  President  ;  N.  L.  Bidwell,  Secretary.  294 
members.  101  males  ;  193  females.  30  cider  distilleries  ;  8  retail¬ 
ers,  5  sell  by  the  dram  ;  6  taverns  ;  30  temperance  farms  ;  3  tempe¬ 
rance  shops. 

East  Hartford,  S.  Olmsted,  President ;  Ci.  Olmsted,  Secretary. 
530  members.  250  males,  280  females.  8  retailers;  1  temperance 
store  ;  /  taverns  ;  5  deaths  by  ardent  spirits  last  year  ;  3  reputed 
drunkards,  apparently  reformed.  Temperance  reformation  making 
fine  progress.  Most  of  (he  young  people  engaged  to  promote  it. 


32 


THIRD  ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE 


East  Windsor ,  A.  Read,  President  $  P.  W.  Grant,  Secretary.  217 
members.  74  males  ;  133  females.  3  retailers  ;  3  taverns  ;  4  deaths 
by  ardent  spirits  last  year  ;  9  church  members  carry  materials  to  the 
distillery  ;  14  temperance  farms.  The  chief  obstacle  to  the  cause 
complained  of  here,  is  the  unfavorable  “  stand  taken  by  influential  men 
in  and  out  of  the  church.” 

East  Windsor ,  North  parish,  S.  Bartlett,  President ;  M.  Reed,  Se¬ 
cretary.  334  members.  In  this  parish  there  are  4  gin  distilleries, 
which  consume  353  bushels  of  grain  a  day,  and  produce  273,000  gal¬ 
lons  of  spirit  yearly. 

Wapping ,  J.  Collins,  President ;  H.  Hall,  Secretary.  80  members. 
33  males,  46  females.  2  retailers  ;  1  temperance  store  ;  1  tavern, 
where  spirits  are  not  kept.  Almost  all  the  families  of  the  parish  ob¬ 
viously  improved  in  their  circumstances,  in  consequence  of  the  tem¬ 
perance  reformation.  10  farms  are  carried  on  without  spirits,  and  the 
church  is  a  temperance  church. 

Enfield ,  W.  Dixon,  President ;  A.  Allen,  Secretary.  306  members. 
132  males,  174  females.  2  gin  distilleries  ;  5  retailers,  and  6  taverns. 

Farmington ,  Hon.  T.  Pitkin,  President;  S.  Hart,  Secretary.  455 
members.  6  cider  distilleries  ;  4  venders  ;  5  temperance  stores  ;  1 
tavern  out  of  7,  where  spirits  are  not  kept  ;  30  farms  and  6  mechanic 
shops,  carried  on  without  spirits  ;  4  church  members  engaged  in  the 
distillation  of  spirits,  and  3  in  the  sale  of  it ! ! ! 

Avon ,  1st  Societjr.  C.  Whittlesey,  President ;  J.  H.  Brown,  Secre¬ 
tary.  141  members.  42  males,  99  females.  3  cider  distilleries.  4 
retailers,  3  of  whom  sell  liquor  by  the  dram.  Two  distillers,  two  vend¬ 
ers,  and  one  taverner  in  the  church,  and  two  deacons  not  members  of 
the  Temperance  Society.  Seven  church  members  who  carry  materials 
to  the  distillery.  13  Temperance  firms,  and  6  shops. 

Avon ,  2d  Society,  R.  Porter,  President ;  J.  Willard,  Secretary.  74 
members  ;  26  males,  48  females.  4  cider  distilleries.  Here  are  two 
temperance  stores.  Many  of  the  members  of  the  church  carry  stuff  to 
the  distilleries  ;  5  distill  and  sell  it,  and  one  deacon  keeps  arum  tavern. 
Habakuk  ii.  15,  16. 

East  Hartland ,  1.  Newell,  President ;  L.  P.  Case,  Secretary.  128 
members  ;  43  males,  85  females.  9  cider  distilleries  ;  5  of  them  owned 
by  PROFESSORS  of  religion.  16  farms  are  worked  without  spirits, 
and  3  mechanics’  shops.  The  greatest  hindrance  to  the  reformation 
complained  of  here  is  the  inconsistency  and  indecision  of  its  pledged 
supporters. 

West- Hartland,  67  members. 

Glastenbury ,  P.  Brown,  President;  A.  H.  Wells,  Secretary.  122 
members.  5  retailers,  3  of  whom  sell  by  the  dram  ;  2  Temperance 
stores,  one  of  wrhich  belongs  to  the  Hartford  Manufacturing  Co.  5  reput¬ 
ed  drunkards  have  been  apparently  reformed;  14  farms  and  10  me¬ 
chanics'  shops  are  worked  without  spirits.  The  principal  opposition 
arises  from  political  and  sectarian  motives. 

Glastenbury .  Youth’s  Society,  O,  Wells,  President ;  R  Ladd,  Secre- 


CONNECTICUT  TEMPERANCE  SOCIETY, 


33 


tary.  164  members,  This  society  consists  of  unmarried  persons,  over 
10  years  of  age. 

Eastbury ,  J.  Stocking,  President ;  D.  H,  Hubbard,  Secretary.  60 
members. 

Salmon  Brook,  J.  Kendall  President;  C.  Hayes,  Secretary.  113 
members.  40  Cider  distilleries,  make  800  barrels  of  brandy,  on  an  av¬ 
erage,  yearly.  3  retailers,  10  dram-sellers,  8  taverns,  1  temperance 
store  ;  three-quarters  of  the  inhabitants  interested,  one  way  and  anoth¬ 
er,  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  spirits.  6  church  members  make 
and  sell  it.  A  Youth’s  Temperance  Society,  has  recently  been  formed 
here. 

Turkey  Hills ,  Hon.  S.  Woodruff,  President ;  G.  C.  Gould,  Secretary. 
107  members  ;  31  males,  51  females.  7  cider  distilleries  make  8,000 
gallons  spirit  annually. — 4  deaths  by  intemperance  last  year.  13  tem¬ 
perance  farms.  3  temperance  shops.  A  stone  church  lately  erected 
and  finished  without  spirits. 

Manchester,  officers  not  reported.  148  members.  3  retailers.  4 
taverns.  20  temperance  farms.  8  mechanic  shops,  and  8  factories 
without  spirits. 

Manchester ,  Youtlis  Society.  E.  C.  Hilliard,  President ;  C.  S.  Ly¬ 
man,  Secretary,  234  members. 

Simsbury ,  C.  Barber,  President ;  R.  Eells,  Secretary.  200  mem¬ 
bers,  50  males,  150  females.  15  cider  distilleries  ;  8  retailers  who 
sell  by  the  dram  ;  13  taverns  ;  14  farms  and  5  mechanic  shops,  worked 
without  spirits. 

Suff.elcl,  (not  reported,)  has  386  members. 

Wethersfield ,  S.  B.  Woodward,  M.  D.  President ;  A.  Robbins,  Secre¬ 
tary.  465  members.  125  males,  301  females.  2  retailers  ;  2  tav¬ 
erns  ;  3  temperance  stores  ;  4  mechanic  shops  without  spirits,  and 
three-fourths  of  the  farms  without. 

Wethersfield ,  Youth's  Society,  1 94  members. 

Southington ,  S.  Walkley,  President  ;  C.  Robinson,  Secretary.  300 
members.  101  males,  198  females.  5  cider  distilleries  ;  6  retailers  ; 
all  sell  by  the  dram  ;  4  taverns  ;  6  drunkards  reformed  ;  50  farms 
worked  without  spirits  ;  2  church  members  carry  materials  to  distille 
ries  ;  1  retails  ;  3  keep  rum  taverns,  and  one  deacon  professes  his  dis 
like  to  temperance  Societies. 

Newington ,  W.  Deming,  President ;  D.  H.  Willard,  Secretary. 
224  members.  89  males,  135  females.  There  is  no  store  in  this  pa¬ 
rish,  and  but  one  tavern  in  a  corner  of  it.  One  third  of  the  people  are 
members  of  the  temperance  society,  including  almost  all  the  young  peo¬ 
ple.  6  reputed  drunkards  have  been  apparently  reformed  ;  35  farms 
are  worked  without  spirits.  The  church  is  practically  a  temperance 
church. 

Rocky  Hill ,  -  - ;  J-  Williams,  Secretary.  182  members. 

57  males,  125  females.  5  retailers;  4  dram  sellers  ;  15  farms  con¬ 
ducted  without  spirits. 

Wintonbury ,  E.  Erisbie,  President ;  A.  Andrews,  Secretary.  348 


34 


THIRD  ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE 


members.  134  males,  214  females.  5  gin  distilleries.  2  temperance 
stores.  1  temperance  tavern.  3  drunkards  apparently  reformed.  16 
farms,  and  5  shops  worked  without  spirits. 

West  Hartford ,  R.  Colton,  President ;  H.  B.  Porter,  Secretary. 
284  members.  2  cider  distilleries  ;  4  retailers  ;  27  farms,  and  8  shops 
worked  without  spirits. 

Collinsville ,  recently  formed,  not  reported,  has  110  members.  So¬ 
cieties  exist  in  the  deaf  and  dumb  Asylum,  and  in  Washington  College, 
from  which  no  recent  reports  have  been  received. 


NEW-HAVEN  COUNTY. 

Society  organized  February ,  1830. 

Hon.  DAVID  DAGGETT,  LL.D.  President. 

Hon.  Simeon  Baldwin, 

Gen.  Eli  Fowler, 

Bennf.t  Bronson, 

Lyman  Cannon,  !  Vice- 

Col.  Samuel  Robinson,  '  Presidents . 

Dr.  Joseph  Foote, 

Leman  Stone,  esq,. 

Prof.  Denison  Olmstead,^ 


/ 


James  Brewster,  John  L.  Tomlinson,  Samuel  Frisbie,  Bela  Farnham, 
Julius  Maltby,  Caleb  Cook,  Aaron  Benedict,  Eli  Thompson,  Col. 
Cowles,  James  E.  P.  Dean,Wm.  Fenn,  David M.  Hotchkiss — Directors. 

Rev.  John  Mitchell,  Fairhaven,  Secretary . 


Am asa  Porter,  Treasurer. 

There  were  orginally  in  this  Count}'  two  Temperance  Societies — 
one  for  the  eastern,  and  the  other  for  the  western  district,  but  they 
were  in  February,  1830,  merged  into  one. 

The  number  of  members  was  then  2500.  Number  of  members  at 


the  first  anniversary,  Feb.  1831,  4207 

Number  at  the  second  anniversary,  Feb.  1832,  5999 

Increase  first  year,  1707 

do.  second  year,  1792 


The  whole  number  of  auxiliaries  is  35.  But,  says  the  Secretary  in 
his  report,  15  of  them  were  not  represented  at  the  annual  meeting,  and 
only  their  number  when  last  reported  was  used  in  making  the  estimate. 
Some  have  not  been  heard  from  for  a  long  time.  The  increase  already 
ascertained,  has  been  far  greater  than  was  anticipated.  It  was  supposed 
a  year  ago,  that  we  had  arrived  almost  to  the  limit  ot  success.  But  the 
increase  is  still  greater  than  before,  and  affords  the  strongest  encourage¬ 
ment  to  the  friends  of  temperance  to  persevere.  From  estimates  made 
in  the  several  towns,  agreeably  to  the  published  request,  it  appears  that 
428  farmers  conducted  their  business  in  the  County  the  past  year  with¬ 
out  ardent  spirits— 9  out  of  12  brick-yards  in  one  town,  have  been 


CONNECTICUT  TEMPERANCE  SOCIETY. 


2$ 


worked  without,  with  the  exception  of  one  individual  out  of  30  or  40 
laborers.  From  one  port,  11  out  of  1 7  vessels,  or  four-fifths  of  the 
tonnage,  have  made  their  voyages  without  ardent  spirits.  More  than 
150  master  mechanics,  builders,  &c.  and  several  (more  than  20)  large 
manufacturers  have  conducted  their  business  on  the  same  principle. 
Diminution  of  sales  for  the  last  3  years  are  generally  estimated  from 
1-2  to  3-4.  And  so  long,  says  the  Secretary,  as  the  friends  of  Tempe¬ 
rance  continue  to  use  judicious  efforts,  there  Avill  be  a  steady  and  silent 
influence  at  work,  graduaally  circumscribing  the  monster  Intemperance, 
and  ultimately  destroying  him.  Let  them  keep  the  evil  and  danger  of 
dram  drinking  constantly  before  the  public  mind  ;  hold  steadily  before 
the  public  eye  the  resistless  facts  which  prove  that  men  can  do  every 
thing  better  without  rum  than  with  it,  and  the  reformation  will  go  on. 
The  number  of  intemperate  will  gradually  diminish,  as  one  drunkard 
after  another  falls  into  the  grave.  The  number  of  the  abstinent  will 
increase  until  the  public  sentiment  (already  strong)  shall  become  so 
decided  against  the  use  of  spirituous  liquors,  that  every  man  of  princi¬ 
ple  and  virtue  will  be  ashamed  to  drink. 

The  Secretary  thus  speaks  of  the  prospects  of  the  rising  genera¬ 
tion — Our  population  is  40,000.  About  one-third  are  under  14  years 
of  age,  and  under  the  influence  of  the  older  class.  Of  the  older  class, 
one  half  entirely  discountenance  the  use  of  ardent  spirits  ;  the  rest  give 
far  less  countenance  to  the  evil  than  formerly.  In  fact,  one  half  of  the 
rising  generation  is  entirely  rescued  from  the  evil  of  the  bad  example  of 
parents,  brothers  and  sisters  ;  and  the  other  half  far  less  encouraged  to 
form  dangerous  habits  than  formerly. 

There  are  doubtless  many,  unfortunately  too  many,  respectable,  and 
we  are  willing  to  believe,  good  (though  mistaken)  men,  whose  practice 
says  to  their  innocent  and  unsuspecting  children,  “  there  is  no  evil  in 
drinking  a  little  rum.”  The  influence  of  such  examples  is  unhappily 
great.  The  examples  of  those  unhappy  victims  who  have  ceased  to  be 
respectable  have  long  since  lost  their  power,  and  stand  like  shattered 
wrecks  to  warn  others  to  avoid  the  dangerous  rocks  on  which  they 
split  and  sunk  to  rise  no  more.  It  is  the  example  of  these  good  men 
which  holds  the  poisoned  cup  to  their  children;  which  encourages  the 
unhappy  victims  of  appetite  in  their  fatal  course  ;  which  deters  many 
from  adopting  the  only  course  of  safety  ;  and  on  them  devolves  the 
fearful  responsibility  of  retarding  the  progress  of  one  of  the  most  hu¬ 
mane  and  benevolent  schemes  ever  attempted  by  a  Christian  community. 

AUXILIARIES. 

New-Haven ,  City,  Hon.  S.  Baldwin,  President ;  A.  N.  Skinner,  Sec¬ 
retary.  570  members.  Increase  10. 

Young  Men’s  Society ,  James  E.  Dean,  President  ;  Henry  White, 
Secretary.  252  members.  Increase  70. 

Yale  College ,  267  members.  Increase  67. 

Fairhaven ,  213  members.  Increase  73. 


36 


THIRD  ANNUAL  RtPORT  OF  THE 


Hotchkisstoxon ,  95  members.  A  new  society  formed  within  the  year. 
African,  50  members. 

In  New-Haven  are  1 247  members.  No  report  has  been  received 
stating  the  statistics  of  Temperance  and  Intemperance  in  this  city; 
which  is  much  to  be  regretted.  Much  has  been  done  to  purify  that 
beautiful  city,  but  it  is  believed  the  vast  moral  power  existing  there  has 
not  been  brought  to  bear  as  it  must  be  upon  this  vice  Intemperance. 

Branford ,  Samuel  Frisbie,  President;  Benjamin  R.  Fowler,  Secre¬ 
tary.  150  members.  Increase  61. 

Cheshire,  OS  members.  A  new  society  ;  organized  in  November  last. 
Derby,  Leman  Stone,  President  ;  J.  L.  Tomlinson,  Secretary.  227 
members.  Increase  7 4. 

Humphrey sville ,  119  members.  Increase  49. 

Great  Hill ,  65  members.  41  Increase. 

East-Haven ,  Dr.  B.  Farnham,  President ;  S.  R.  Bradley,  Secretary. 
240  members.  Increase  32. 

Guilford,  Samuel  Burgiss,  President ;  Amos  Seward,  Secretary.  358 
members.  Increase  53. 

Hamden,  (Mt.  Carmel,)  Lyman  Goodyear,  President ;  —  - —  Ives, 
Secretary.  115  members.  Increase  55. 

Hamden,  (East  Plains,)  133  members.  103  increase. 

Madison,  Benjamin  Ilart,  President ;  W.  P.  Hunger,  Secretary.  331 
members;  1J4  males,  217  females.  Increase  140.  Two  merchants 
ceased  selling  last  year,  and  2  have  ceased  within  two  or  three  months. 
2  taverners,  and  2  licensed  retailers  continue  to  sell.  In  two  large 
shipyards,  employing  35  men,  no  ardent  spirits  are  furnished.  Some 
who  were  drunkards,  are  reputable  members  of  the  society.  A  great 
change  has  taken  place  within  the  last  year. 

Juvenile  Society,  119  members  ;  63  males,  53  females,  between  10 
and  16  years  of  age. 

North  Madison , - ,  President  ;  James  H.  Benton,  Secretary. 

75  members.  Increase  11. 

Middlebury ,  63  members — no  increase. 

Milford ,  Nathan  Nettleton,  President;  Allen  C.  Bull,  Secretary. 
276  members.  Increase  89- 

North  Branford ,  186  members.  Increase  79. 

North  Guilford ,  B.  Baldwin,  President ;  T.  R.  Bray,  Secretary. 
145  members.  Increase  32. 

North  Milford,  Samuel  Potter,  President  ;  Nathan  Clark,  Secretary. 
119  members.  Increase  68. 

Meriden,  Elisha  A.  Cowles,  President;  Fenner  Bush,  Secretary. — 
237  members.  This  society  was  organized  in  1830,  but  has  had  no 
meeting  from  the  first,  until  recently,  it  has  been  re-organized  with  a 
good  spirit.  Increase  50  in  the  last  month,  The  Temperance  reform 
here,  however,  has  been  considerable.  Ardent  spirit  is  entirely  ex¬ 
cluded  from  13  factories  and  workshops,  employing  210  hands  ;  among 
these,  is  an  auger  factory  and  casting  establishment.  A  new  Congre¬ 
gational  meeting-house  has  been  entirely  on  Temperance  principles. — 


CONNECTICUT  TEMPERANCE  SOCIETY. 


37 


Of  four  stores,  all  sell  the  poison  but  oue.  Some  professors  of  religion 
much  hinder  the  work  on  their  way  to  judgment. 

North- Haven ,  Dr.  J.  Foote,  President ;  Dr.  Bronson,  Secretary. — 
354  members.  Increase  1 69-  The  cause  prospers  more  in  this  than  in 
any  town  in  the  County,  and  the  promoters  feel  a  blessed  reward  for 
their  activity. 

Northford,  Eli  Smith,  President;  Marcus  Lindsley,  Secretary.  135 
members.  Increase  63. 

Oxford ,  58  members.  Increase  15. 

Prospect,  106  members.  Increase  3. 

Salem  Bridge ,  25  members — no  increase  reported. 

South  Britain ,  41  members — no  increase  reported. 

Southbury ,  126  members. 

Wallingford , - Cannon,  President ;  Caleb  Cook,  Secretary.— 

140  members.  59  increase. 

Waterbury,  Bennet  Bronson,  President ;  Israel  Coe,  Secretary.  393 
members.  Increase  59.  The  Temperance  cause  has  done  great  good 
in  this  place. 

West-Haven,  N.  Kimberly,  President;  S.  Johnson,  Secretary.  120 
members.  Increase  55. 

Woodbury,  (Amity,)  116  members.  Increase  64. 

Bethany ,  no  report. 

Durham,  W.  Wadsworth,  President;  J.  Chedsey,  Secretary.  180 
members. 

From  these  reports  from  the  County  Societies,  it  appears  that  there 
are  208  temperance  societies  in  Connecticut,  and  nearly  one  in  every 
parish  or  school  Society,  embodying  42,298  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
State,  who  have  given  their  pledge  that  they  will  neither  distil,  vend  or 
use  distilled  liquors,  nor  give  them  to  others,  and  that  they  will  in  all 
suitable  ways,  discountenance  the  use  of  them  in  the  community.  12  new 
Societies  have  been  formed  since  the  last  anniversary,  and  more  than 
12,000  new  names  been  added  to  the  constitution. 

It  is  peculiarly  gratifying,  says  Mr.  Frost,  in  a  letter  to  the  Commit¬ 
tee,  to  witness  the  minds  of  our  intelligent  citizens  gradually  opening 
and  cheerfully  receiving  those  principles  which,  at  the  commencement 
of  the  Temperance  reformation,  were  boldly  denied  by  some,  and  by 
others,  more  modest,  deemed  problematical.  The  claim  that  ardent 
spirit  is  necessary  for  persons  in  health,  scarcely  finds  an  advocate 
among  those  I  have  addressed  the  last  year.  Necessity  has  been  the 
cradle  in  which  men  have  rocked  themselves  into  the  most  profound 
slumbers.  Yet  these  slumbers  have  been  effectually  broken.  And  I 
am  satisfied  that  the  temperance  cause  is  making  permanent  and  rapid 
advances  in  Connecticut.  Temperance  meetings  are  much  better  at¬ 
tended  than  they  were  one  year  ago.  The  cause  engages  more  direct¬ 
ly  and  distinctly  the  prayers  of  its  friends.  A  greater  proportion  of 
those  who  have  joined  this  year  are  professors  of  religion,  than  in  for¬ 
mer  years.  And  the  early  jealousies  entertained  by  some  that  the 
Temperance  movement  was  politically  and  religiously  sectarian,  have 


38 


THIRD  ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE 


in  a  good  degree  been  dissipated.  And  from  close  observation,  during 
a  period  of  between  five  and  six  months  in  which  I  have  been  specially 
employed  in  the  service  of  the  Committee  the  past  year,  I  feel  that  we 
have  reason  to  thank  God  and  take  courage. 

Your  Committee  will  not  remark  upon  the  almost  universal  com¬ 
plaint  concerning  professors  of  religion  as  an  hindrance  to  this  work  of 
reform.  They  will  rather  drop  a  tear  over  this  astonishing  apathy  and 
hostility  in  men  enlisted,  solemnly  enlisted,  to  every  good  work,  and 
would  record  it  only  as  the  Holy  Spirit  records  the  failings  and  sins  of 
ancient  believers,  that  may  be  humbled  at  the  power  of  indwelling  cor¬ 
ruption,  and  admire  the  more  the  saving  grace  of  God. 

A  large  body  of  respectable  merchants  in  the  State,  have  now  aban¬ 
doned  the  traffic  in  ardent  spirits,  and  your  Committee  look  forward 
with  sanguine  expectations  to  the  speedy  downfall  of  this  unholy  busi¬ 
ness.  The  general  unwillingness  of  venders  to  read  and  hear  and 
come  to  the  light,  shews  that  there  is  an  awful  distrust  of  it  in  their  own 
bosoms,  as  right  in  the  sight  of  God.  <c  Disguise  it  as  they  will,”  said 
Chancellor  Walworth,  “  it  is  a  TRAFFIC  in  the  SOULS  and  BODIES 
of  MEN.”  Such  a  traffic  cannot  be  sustained  in  the  land  of  the  pil¬ 
grims,  nor  we  trust  long  in  the  civilized  world. 

A  great  power  on  this  subject  lies  at  the  present  time  with  the  milita¬ 
ry  officers  of  the  State  ;  and  your  Committee  hope  that  the  opinions  of 
the  Secretary  of  War,  and  of  the  Major  General  of  the  United  States 
Army  will  induce  them  and  all  who  are  called  into  the  field  to  relinquish 
all  treats,  and  all  use  of  spirits  on  military  days,  as  unworthy  of  the  sol¬ 
dier. 

Your  Committee  would  offer  a  few  words  on  the  subject  of  expendi¬ 
tures  for  the  objects  of  the  Society.  The  State  Temperance  Society 
of  New- York,  have  done  great  things  in  that  State  for  the  cause,  They 
have  in  the  last  year,  printed  10,000  copies  of  the  annual  report ;  350,- 
000  circulars  ;  100,000  family  temperance  constitutions  ;  circulated 
thousands  of  temperance  papers  and  tracts,  and  supported  numerous 
agents.  And  how  have  they  been  enabled  to  do  all  this  ?  By  gene¬ 
rous  contributions  from  the  friends  of  the  cause.  But  in  Connecticut  ve¬ 
ry  little  has  been  contributed.  Our  agent  has  been  tolerably  sustained 
for  a  part  of  two  years.  And  one  report  has  been  printed.  And  Ame¬ 
rican  Temperance  Society  has  received  a  few  handsome  donations  from 
some  individuals  residing  in  the  State.  Beyond  this  lithe  has  been 
done.  The  officers  of  the  various  Societies  have  been  checked  in 
their  operations  for  want  of  funds. *  An  early  objection  was  made  in 
the  Societies  for  asking  contributions  from  the  fact  that  the  enemies  of 
the  cause  were  continually  predicting  that  heavy  taxes  would  soon  be 

*  The  Secretary  considers  it  due  to  the  cause  to  state,  (as  it  has  been  widely 
circulated  by  evil-minded  persons,  that  he  has  had  1,000  dollars  annually  for  his 
services,)  that  he  has  never  received  a  cent  for  all  he  has  dono  as  Secretary  °>  the 
Society.  What  ho  has  done  he  has  done  cheerfully,  without  compensation.  Had 
he  had  the  means  at  his  disposal,  he  could  and  would  have  promoted  the  causo 
tSauch  more  than  he  has  been  able  to. 


CONNECTICUT  TEMPERANCE  SOCIETY  • 


30 

laid  upon  all  who  joined  them.  But  they  should  no  longer  be  regard¬ 
ed.  It  is  the  duty  of  men  to  contribute  their  money  to  whatever  object 
is  useful,  and  what  cause  is  more  useful  than  the  T emperance  ?  Where 
can  men  find  higher  interest  for  their  money  ?  u  Facts  justify  the  be¬ 
lief,”  says  the  last  report  of  the  American  Temperance  Society,  “  that 
if  100  men  give  100  dollars  annually,  to  promote  the  cause,  they  may 
be  instrumental  in  annually  saving  10,000  lives,  and  10  millions  of  dol¬ 
lars,  and  may  exert  an  influence  in  the  highest  degree  salutary  to  the 
social,  civil  and  religious  interests  of  men,  which  shall  be  felt  in  its  ef¬ 
fects  to  all  future  generations,  and  shall  tell  in  accents  of  glory  upon  the 
destinies  of  millions  to  eternity.”  But  it  will  be  said  New-York  is  a 
rich  and  enterprising  State,  and  can  afford  to  do  great  things.  And  yet 
all  her  expenditure  in  this  cause  the  last  year,  did  not  exceed  4,500 
dollars  ;  not  a  large  sum  even  for  us.  F  or  if  each  of  the  male  members 
of  our  temperance  Societies,  have  saved  to  himself  annually,  five  dol¬ 
lars,  and  may  have  saved  by  the  reformation  20,  there  has  been  saved 
by  it  to  them  annually  the  sum  of  100,000  dollars.  It  is  hoped  that 
there  will  be  throughout  our  State,  a  spirit  of  greater  liberality  in  the 
support  of  agents  and  circulation  of  tracts,  reports  and  papers.  Could 
Mr.  Frost  be  sustained  constantly  in  his  work,  and  the  National  Circu¬ 
lar  be  put  into  every  family,  and  the  Fourth  Report  of  the  American 
Temperance  Society,  into  every  district,  and  Temperance  newspapers 
be  freely  circulated,  it  is  believed  the  cause  would  rapidly  advance. 

And  why  should  it  not  advance  ?  Is  it  not  the  cause  of  humanity  and 
salvation.  Much,  very  much,  has  been  accomplished,  but  much,  very 
much  remains  to  be  done.  The  Committee  recommend  activity  here 
to  every  charitable  association  of  the  day,  for  what  charitable  associa¬ 
tion  is  not  favored  by  it ;  to  every  patriot,  for  what  like  this  will  pro¬ 
mote  the  prosperity  and  happiness  of  the  country  ;  to  every  parent,  for 
it  will  save  his  children  from  the  greatest  danger  ;  to  every  Christian,  for 
it  removes  one  of  the  greatest  obstructions  to  the  spread  of  the  Gospel, 
and  prepares  the  way  of  the  Lord.  All  come,  young  and  old,  rich  and 
poor,  male  and  female,  and  give  your  pledge,  that  you  will  touch  not, 
taste  not,  handle  not  that  which  now  destroys  millions  for  both  worlds. 
May  Connecticut  soon  go  free  and  the  world  be  saved  from  the  abo¬ 
mination  of  Intemperance. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 


JOHN  MARSH,  Secretary. 


